working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

working moms...do you ever feel like all of your energy is put into your job and by the time you get home and are with your family and all the responsibilities that need to be done, you are drained completely and second guess working so much? here is my situation....
i am a mother of 2, DD is 7 in 2nd grade DS is 5 in kindergarten. i have a cleaning business twice a week and i am done working by the afternoon which leaves me about 3 hours or so, before getting the kids from school. on these days i feel fine, i feel like i worked , made good money and can get stuff accomplished after(errands, dinner started, cleaning, a dr appt ect)
on the other three days i work as a preschool teacher. i am at the school from 9-3pm . my afternoon class is very tough, and it leaves me exhausted with no energy at the end of the day. when i walk out i feel overwhelmed, tired and i feel like its starting to affect my children as far as coming home having to do homework start dinner late ect. i also end up doing some lesson planning at home at night or on weekends, because i want the best for my preschool class and like to plan ahead. right now, my son is struggling in kindergarten, he receives OT and speech in school, there is a possibility he may have a learning diability. he requires alot of one on one at home with homework. he did horrible on a math test today. im feeling like because i work so much its affecting my home and my children. DH works alot of hours and when he comes home he really doesnt pitch except at baths at night. i am grateful for his help with that but i still feel like i have alot on my plate. my question to all of you is....as much as i do not want to leave my preschool job completely, maybe just work part of the day with the AM class...i feel like id be abandoning them which i feel bad about but what would you do? i feel stuck...i feel bad leaving my afternoon class mid year but i dont know how else to feel less stressed and my family comes first...but should i tough it out? is there any other solution?. i would love to hear you advice on this because i dont know what else to do! TIA!

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

Unfortunately i have no advise to give. I am in the same boat. I work a full time job thaat leaves me exhausted and i am done by the time i get home. I have a 14 yo stepson and a 6 month old son. WHen im home i worry about work and when im at work i worry about the kids.. I have not found the balance either. Not to dwell on my story, i feel what you are going through. You are not alone..

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

I have little advice - just lots of

Being a working mom is crazy hard!

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

its nice to know im not the only one feeling this way. i feel so guilty. i was a stay at home mom until DD went to kindergarten. i worked part time twice a week when DS was in preschool. i never felt stressed. i have made the decision to only teach in the AM in sept but to think i have the rest of this school year to go, another 5 months, is completely overwhelming! thank you for the i really needed to hear im not alone!

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

I have a similar situation. I work full time and I come home exhausted everyday and I feel like I have have missed out on so much with my 27 month old son! When I'm at work all I do is think about him and want to be there spending quality time with him and making memories. Unfortunately I have no advise for you, but just wanted to say I understand how you feel. It's tough being away from the kids all day!

Message edited 1/25/2013 10:03:47 PM.

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

WOW, I swear I could've written this myself!!!!! Only I am a full time preschool teacher. My school hours are 8:05-3:25
I leave my house at 6:30 am and dont get back until 5!!!! I have 2 kids (a 3rd on the way) my 2 year old is crazy busy and a 4 year old with special needs.....OH did I mention I'm working on getting ,my reading certificate at the locak University???? yeah....a little busy here!!!!
If there was ANYTHING I could do to alleviate my stress I would. I think you should absolutely work less since it seems to be an option for you. Your sanity and your kids come first!!! Your kids are only little once. Enjoy them while you can, and in the process you can feel less overwhelmed.

Message edited 1/25/2013 10:53:34 PM.

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

Message edited 1/25/2013 11:13:37 PM.

working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

as a former teacher, I honestly think leaving your class mid-year is really unprofessional. If there a way to give up your cleaning business until the school year ends then switch to PT preschool. At least then you'll have two days off to do house stuff and lesson planning when your kids are at school

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!

I'm a FTWM with a 4yrs old, 2yr old and pregnant now. I wish I could stay home but it's just not possible. Sometimes I even have to work 6 day work weeks when work is busy. I'm not sure that I have great advice for you but you could use a crockpot to prepare dinner or make casseroles ahead of time, use a grocery delivery service and ask DH to throw a laundry on while you're running crazy. My boys love going food shopping and it gives me more time with them so they're always with me. Yes it takes longer but I'm with them so it doesn't bother me.

If you can afford to cut back to PT then do it. These ties fly by and you shouldn't spend them stressed to the max. Best of luck with your decision...it's not easy either way.

BTW for me cleaning has taken the back burner. I straighten out the house but a good cleaning is far and few right now.

Re: working moms please come in...overwhelmed and stressed!