Is Being A Teacher Compatible With Being A Mom?

Being a teacher is a profession many people aspire to. It is a leadership role that helps young people shape their futures, providing them with guidance, inspiration, and tough love. In addition, teaching has a great routine, as well as lengthy vacation time when compared to corporate jobs.

Many parents, though, become concerned about whether a teacher’s day-to-day routine is compatible with being a parent. Here are some concerns in this area, and some advice on how to be both a great parent and a dedicated teacher.

The hours

Being a teacher provides a great routine, but the long working hours are a concern for many moms. Between arriving early, leaving late, and grading papers during the evening, the long hours that a teaching job requires can be grueling and tiring, to say the least. So how can you be a good mom while putting in the effort required to be a teacher?

What’s the solution?

• Part-time teaching. Working part-time would alleviate some of the hours required to be a full-time teacher. This does mean you earn a lower salary, but it leaves you more time for the kids too.

• Hiring help, such as a nanny. If you and your partner are both working full time, it might be a good idea to hire a nanny who can assist you with taking care of the kids while you are working.

The cost of training

If you plan to re-train as a teacher, you should factor in the training time and cost before you actually start working in a school. This period requires you to be studying, earning little, and paying for tuition besides. This element of becoming a teacher puts off many parents who are focusing on providing for their kids.

What’s the solution?

Studying secondary teaching is not necessarily as expensive as it may seem. Many colleges offer payment plans that are accessible to people of all income levels. In addition, if you are placed in a school while still training, you can be paid for the work you do while you train. This is a great option for parents who want to stay financially stable while taking a new career path.

Trying to be perfect

Many parents find the prospect of trying to juggle parenting and teaching and being successful at both, daunting. There is mounting pressure to be the ideal parent while succeeding at your job 24/7 – and frankly, this standard is impossible to achieve!

What’s the solution?

It is very hard to be perfect in every area of our lives. In fact, it’s practically impossible. If you fixate on being the perfect mother and the perfect teacher, you are bound to be stressed out of your mind and not enjoying either aspect of your life. Letting go of perfectionism and accepting that you are only doing your best will help you relax into your role as both parent and teacher.

It’s also important to remember that as a teacher, there are many tools to help you. Many teachers made use of video conferencing apps during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and still managed to put classes through with satisfactory grades, while a wireless screen mirroring in the classroom is a renewed means of presenting content and better segmenting your lesson plans. Don’t worry – the tools are there to help you if you ask for them.

In conclusion, being a mom and a teacher is totally compatible. With the right approach, you can excel in both areas of your life!

Photo by Christina Morillo