My own mom was similar to the above one. Her undergrad was in General Business. She decided to go into real estate sales because 90% of the in-person work was on the weekend, when dad could supervise us. The paperwork could be done while we were in school, usually from home. Like above, my mom got us ready for school and was there when we got home.
I love these smart creative moms! You CAN work and still be a mom who is present in your kids' lives. Oh - and I became a high school teacher. Not as ideal as 9-2, but I get snow days just like my kids, Christmas and Easter, blah blah , and 8 weeks off in the summer. I already had my masters before I became a mom; i planned it that way. My mom was my muse. |
Did you take off while your kids were little? Once they were in school, what happens when hours don’t match due to different buildings? What happens if your kids aren’t in your school system, so they have a different vacation schedule? If nothing else, every teacher has to arrange alternate care for conferences, in service days and required days before the year starts. I know many teachers who are also moms, and many have had issues with all but the last (though I know several who have had issues with the last too). Most teachers I know end up taking off the first year to three of their children’s lives or they ask their mom to retire and be the primary caregiver for those years. |
It all worked out. The main thing is to maximize the amount of time you can spend with your kids. |
They take time off because of pay vs. child care costs.. I took time off as child care was more than my salary. |
Teacher here, I did this too. I had my kids close together (only 14 months apart) to save on childcare and to be home with my babies, and give them a chance to be close with each other. Then back to work but plenty of time off in the subsequent years. DH is also a teacher so we normally would be on a roadtrip for the entire month of July, from the time the kids were toddlers. Saw the country as well as Canada over these years with amazing pics of the kids at the monuments, national parks, etc. We fixed up a van as a camper and off into the world we go. Kids are now teens and adventurous travelers. We are starting on Europe next summer if everything opens up and renting a camper van there. (had to postpone from this year, of course.) |
Thanks for the laugh. |
^^ re above:
First, you the mom (or dad) should do a trial: stay home with your 4 kids and do all the laundry and tidying up. Try it for a year. Then decide what the pay should be. |
I have been a stay at home mom for several years. Many of us manage fine but we aren’t getting paid. Find a new career and don’t have kids. |
Well, I can handle it. But your kids are going to learn to do housework and help me, or I won’t agree to it. I have enough sense to know that children who are occupied near or with me are less likely to be causing chaos than if they’re on another floor unsupervised. |