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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
My almost 4 year old DS had a lot of issues this past year. He's been in full time daycare since 4 months, but this year he has had behavior problems, he still isn't toilet trained, I'm constantly getting calls from the school, health issues... it's been a rough year to say the least. It's been tough coming home and having to address all his behavioral needs in the 2.5 hours we have together. We are have him evaluated by a developmental pediatrician. Next school year he will be in a special education pre-school program. So I will have to re-think childcare. My husband and I have been discussing the idea of me staying home so that DS will have more consistency, not have a long day at school, more time in the afternoon. I won't feel as rushed at the end of the day. I'll feel more available to meet his needs. No more stressing about taking off for meetings with teachers, doctors appointments. But this is a really scary idea too. I just got tenure this year. I work at a nice school in Queens. Commute can be rough because I live on the south shore and work in Flushing. I love the people I work with. I love the population I work with. I could do contract work part time so that is an option. But I'd be giving a consistent salary and somewhat more important future pension. We could live on the one salary so money isn't necessarily a consideration. I really do like my job though so it's a tough choice. On the other hand, I feel like this would be a great way to support our son.
Sorry this turned out to be long so I thank anyone who read it all. Just a tough decision to make.
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Posted 5/23/18 10:25 PM  |
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itsagoodlife
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/15 619 total posts
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
How about taking a 1 year LOA? I would be terrified of giving up tenure. What if it didn't work out and you wanted to go back? I would speak with your principal and payroll secretary to see about options.
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| Posted 5/24/18 12:36 PM |
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Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
If you can, I would see if you can take a 1 year leave. If he continues to struggle after the leave and needs you more, I wouldn’t go back. I would re-evaluate your household budget to try and put away more for retirement and like you said, you can do contract consulting work which pays well for the most part. I don’t think I would give it second thought to be honest
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| Posted 5/24/18 4:01 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
I think the 1 year leave is a hood option to consider although I don't even know how you go about that. What is your certification area? That would play a part in my decision for sure.
I didn't work doe but I left a tenured position on LI when I had kids. I do plan to go back in a few years once my kids are both settled in school. I have several permanent certifications so I think I'll be able to find something once I'm ready. If it takes some time to find the right position, I'll be fine with that since we've managed on one income long enough. Retirement is one of the biggest reasons ill need to go back as well.
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| Posted 5/24/18 4:18 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
I'm a speech-language pathologist and I do have permanent (professional) certification. I have no idea if a one year leave of absence would be possible. My DS is too told for a child care leave. I will bring this up to my supervisor tomorrow and see if she knows of any options. Such a scary decision to make. I've only ever done full time work. And Im not eligible to do early intervention because I don't have department of health letter.
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| Posted 5/24/18 4:58 PM |
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
Posted by SLPRunner
I'm a speech-language pathologist and I do have permanent (professional) certification. I have no idea if a one year leave of absence would be possible. My DS is too told for a child care leave. I will bring this up to my supervisor tomorrow and see if she knows of any options. Such a scary decision to make. I've only ever done full time work. And Im not eligible to do early intervention because I don't have department of health letter.
If you have done any pre-k work you can apply since experience needs to be B-5 for an EI letter I see hundreds of cases a day for speech, through NY therapy, definitely apply if you choose to go that route
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| Posted 5/24/18 5:37 PM |
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Loveme
LIF Adult
Member since 6/11 3170 total posts
Name:
Me
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Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
If you can swing it financially, I wouldn’t even give it a second thought. IMO family always comes first.
I’m a school psychologist. I worked for the DOE and left after 2 years, when I gave birth to my son. Now that he’s in K I work for anEI agency doing ABA part time. I love it and don’t think I will ever go back to a school.
You can always consider working for an agency.
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| Posted 5/24/18 9:30 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
Posted by Loveme
If you can swing it financially, I wouldn’t even give it a second thought. IMO family always comes first.
I’m a school psychologist. I worked for the DOE and left after 2 years, when I gave birth to my son. Now that he’s in K I work for anEI agency doing ABA part time. I love it and don’t think I will ever go back to a school.
You can always consider working for an agency.
That's how I feel. Financially fortunately isn't the biggest consideration. Sure it wouldn't be as comfortable like I couldn't just go shopping, but we could swing it for the time. I would love to be more fully available for my son. I know he'd be in school most of the day but having me these at 3 vs 430 each, and the morning I think would make a difference. I'm so on the fence of before care because it would add to his transitions through out the school day for a kid who has difficulties with transitions. My husband feels like I'd be giving up a lot thought and think I feel like this fix all of my problems. I just feel like my kid needs me fully. I really wish I could have done it this year. It wouldn't necessarily be forever. I do like my school but maybe I'd like agency work and maybe I could go back to a school. I just wish I felt more confident about the decision.
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| Posted 5/24/18 9:45 PM |
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Loveme
LIF Adult
Member since 6/11 3170 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
Posted by SLPRunner
Posted by Loveme
If you can swing it financially, I wouldn’t even give it a second thought. IMO family always comes first.
I’m a school psychologist. I worked for the DOE and left after 2 years, when I gave birth to my son. Now that he’s in K I work for anEI agency doing ABA part time. I love it and don’t think I will ever go back to a school.
You can always consider working for an agency.
That's how I feel. Financially fortunately isn't the biggest consideration. Sure it wouldn't be as comfortable like I couldn't just go shopping, but we could swing it for the time. I would love to be more fully available for my son. I know he'd be in school most of the day but having me these at 3 vs 430 each, and the morning I think would make a difference. I'm so on the fence of before care because it would add to his transitions through out the school day for a kid who has difficulties with transitions. My husband feels like I'd be giving up a lot thought and think I feel like this fix all of my problems. I just feel like my kid needs me fully. I really wish I could have done it this year. It wouldn't necessarily be forever. I do like my school but maybe I'd like agency work and maybe I could go back to a school. I just wish I felt more confident about the decision.
Stay in touch with your supervisor. Mine told me that whenever I’m ready to go back, she will help me find something. It may not be in the same school, but definitely The same district.
Also ask about F status. I did that for 6 months before I was placed in a school.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!!
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| Posted 5/25/18 7:48 AM |
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jlwd
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 118 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
I worked for the DOE for 13 years and am currently on leave. It seems like you feel your son needs you so I think that taking a leave is a great idea so you can work on his needs. Look into FMLA since you need to be home to take care of his needs and have documentation to back that up from school doc appts. etc. Look on the doe and union website because there are also leaves available that you might be eligible for. I know there is a paid and unpaid restoration of health leave that might apply to family members you are also eligible for childcare leave until your son starts kindergarten. Good Luck!
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| Posted 5/27/18 10:09 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
Posted by jlwd
I worked for the DOE for 13 years and am currently on leave. It seems like you feel your son needs you so I think that taking a leave is a great idea so you can work on his needs. Look into FMLA since you need to be home to take care of his needs and have documentation to back that up from school doc appts. etc. Look on the doe and union website because there are also leaves available that you might be eligible for. I know there is a paid and unpaid restoration of health leave that might apply to family members you are also eligible for childcare leave until your son starts kindergarten. Good Luck!
I'm pretty sure child care leave is now only until your child is 4? I even tried to start a leave application on SOLAS and it said I was ineligible. I have to speak to my supervisor I know to see what she thinks. I always thought childcare leave was until your child was kindergarten age but it looks like it changed at some point in time.
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| Posted 5/28/18 4:25 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
i live in NJ... but i was an SLP in public schools for 8 years, and stopped working when we adopted our son 6 years ago. i haven't regretted it. Speech has so many other options besides a school, so tenure to me wasn't a big deal. we have since adopted another son, so now i'm home with him while my older one is in first grade all day. i always thought it would get easier once they were both in full day school, and i would go back to work. but now, i'm not sure! there is something to be said for being able to be there for them for special events at school without having to rearrange your schedule, or not having to worry about finding care for snow days or sick days or the random days off they have.... and, in school, i love that i can help him with his homework slowly, instead of rushing hm through it after i've been working all day. plus being able to run errands during the day and keep up with house stuff... overall, it does make a big difference in the family dynamic and "feeling". if theres anyway you can take even just a year off to start,, and see how it goes and go from there. as i said, i think with speech we have so many options for working outside of the schools that it would be easy to get back to work if you need to. but if you feel like your son needs you home more right now, its worth a shot.... good luck!!!
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| Posted 6/8/18 9:49 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ever leave the DOE and become SAHM?
Posted by ml110
i live in NJ... but i was an SLP in public schools for 8 years, and stopped working when we adopted our son 6 years ago. i haven't regretted it. Speech has so many other options besides a school, so tenure to me wasn't a big deal. we have since adopted another son, so now i'm home with him while my older one is in first grade all day. i always thought it would get easier once they were both in full day school, and i would go back to work. but now, i'm not sure! there is something to be said for being able to be there for them for special events at school without having to rearrange your schedule, or not having to worry about finding care for snow days or sick days or the random days off they have.... and, in school, i love that i can help him with his homework slowly, instead of rushing hm through it after i've been working all day. plus being able to run errands during the day and keep up with house stuff... overall, it does make a big difference in the family dynamic and "feeling". if theres anyway you can take even just a year off to start,, and see how it goes and go from there. as i said, i think with speech we have so many options for working outside of the schools that it would be easy to get back to work if you need to. but if you feel like your son needs you home more right now, its worth a shot.... good luck!!!
thank you for your story. I was thinking of some of those same things.... like that family dynamic would be different.
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| Posted 6/13/18 9:44 PM |
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