Teachers who are Mommies....

DH and I have the baby bug bad. We thought having a nephew would hold us off, but he just makes it worse! (it doesn't help that he's so stinkin' cute!) My questions are:

1) Did anyone have their DC before they became teachers or before they got tenure?

2) Would you recommend waiting to search for a job (I finish student teaching this week) to have a baby?

Any advice is appreciated!

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

I had my daughter in April and started in a new district this year...I interviewed 3 weeks after I had her and for me, it was the perfect time to move from my last position to this one...several of the new teachers have young children and one is pregnant and due next month! For us, a family was a priority and we decided that things would work out for the best! Good luck!

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

I became pregnant my last semester in school and was nearing the end of my student teaching when I gave birth. Worked out perfectly for me.

Don't ever hold off on searching for a job and if you really want a child go for it...things always work out in the end

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

I really think this is an entirely personal decision that only you can make. For me, I wouldn't have a baby before I was tenured. It makes me feel better knowing that I have job security. Besides if pay is an issue for a maternity leave, then you want to be teach a few years to accumulate the days to take for your leave. This is just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

IMO it depends. My district is very strict about attendance and they LOVE to use that as an excuse to let untenured teachers go. In fact if we call in and say that we are not coming in today because our child is sick we do not get paid and this is for tenured teachers as well. In my district's opinion your sick days are for you and you only

Personally I wouldn't but it's truly a matter of choice. I know our district puts a lot of demands on it's teachers especially the new ones and even now with 12 years and having 2 out of 3 of my curriculum's that I teach under my belt and well prepped for I still rarely get home before 5 and I am usually in early too.

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

Ladies, thank you so much for being honest. I guess I'll just have to see where life takes me regarding the job market and whether we want to put having a family on hold for a bit. But thanks for all of the advice!

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

I know how you feel. My DH was the one who wanted me to have the job, I could care less since having a family is my number one priority in life.

I have been subbing now since last January (I graduated dec 2006 with my masters) and I still don't have a job. I really feel that it could take too long to get a job on LI to wait to start a family, for me anyway. I am not going to wait, even though it would be ideal, I am just not willing to wait that long. I say, it will all work out, let whatever happens happen. Good luck!

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

I got my masters while my kids were born. started when my oldest was 3m old, and graduated when I was 7m preggo with my third.

Having children is/was/has always been a huge part of who I am, and that takes priority over anything and everything.

The rest of your dreams fall into place.

Re: Teachers who are Mommies....

Starting a family is important to us. I am currently getting my masters in education for a career change. We are TTC now and ideally I will have the baby go out of work and then start student teaching so hopefully when I am ready to start teaching the baby would be like 1