There’s no denying that teaching and parenting are all consuming. And when you’re both, it feels like sometimes it’s hard to draw the line and switch from teacher to parent and back again. After I had my daughter, I can honestly say that that was the hardest transition for me to handle. But after three years and now adding my son into the mix, I feel like I have a good general balance in my life between motherhood and teaching and wanted to share my tips to keep my sanity (and mom/teacher guilt away for the most part!).
1. Work contract hours
This one is hard. As teachers, we get those 30 minutes before and after school as prep time (often taken by meetings) and then our prep period. Not tons of time to get myself set up for the next few days or week or grade! However, I have a weekly schedule planned out for each prep period that I make sure that I follow to make sure that I am prepared for the following week. This truly comes in handy when I’ve been pumping at work as well.
2. No grading at home
Along with following my contract hours, I make sure to only grade at school as well. This can be hard as an English teacher, as there is often lots of writing to be graded! However, I make sure to use my own tips for grading to stay on top of the never-ending load of work.
3. Bring kids along to sporting events
Something I always strive to do is attend events for students – sporting events, musicals, plays, award ceremonies, senior nights, all the opportunities to celebrate them! It can be hard with littles at home, so oftentimes, I end up bringing my kids with me to sporting events. Not only do I get to see my students outside of the classroom and build relationships that way, my kids get to see high school athletes and sports. Especially for my daughter, where we want her to see female athletes and be celebrated.
4. Take the half day
Whenever I feel that the kids need more time with me, I’m feeling really disconnected from my kids, or there’s something special going on that day, I take a half day off. For instance, when my daughter starts the first day of preschool, I will be taking the half day off to be there. Or if the kids are struggling through the night because they just need more mom time, I call out that morning so we can all have some time during a slow morning together. I remind myself that I will never get this time back with my kids, so I take the time off. Even if writing the sub plans is a pain!
5. Treat myself
I can’t be my best self for my kids and students if I don’t take care of myself. So if there is something I want or need, I really try to get it met sooner rather than later. For example, I keep a lot of my stress and tension in my shoulders and neck, which results in awful migraines. So when I seem to be getting those migraines often, I make it a priority to schedule a massage, even if that means taking a day off of work. I come back to work the next day feeling so much better and having less mom guilt as I got a day with my kids too! Win-win!
6. Eat dinner as a family
As a teaching family, our lives can feel busy. But we make sure to eat dinner as a family bed screen free as well. My husband and I also plan on implementing this all through our time as a family – even when the kids get phones. It’s so important to be able to connect.
7. Spend one on one time with kids each day
Sticking with the common theme of making purposeful time with my family and kids is tip seven. Each day, I aim to have a little one on one time with my daughter and my son. It can be easy to have both together, but even taking the time to read a book to one while the other plays in their room or have some snuggle time fills my cup and they feel like they get time with me.
When balancing teaching and parenthood, I find that being very deliberate with my time at work and at home is so important to not burning out or having tons of mom guilt. It’s hard, but it’s important to have a healthy relationship with my job and family!
