Does being a teacher prepare you for when you have your own kids, or is it totally different?

Question

I ask because if being a teacher is anything like being a parent, I'm not sure that I want children anymore. I teach second grade and my students are nice, but honestly, I feel more like a police officer/peace keeper most of the time than a teacher.

I've got a few kids in my class that are EXTREMELY needy. They're constantly wanting my attention and they do it either by being on their worse behavior or depending on me to think for them. Example:

Student: "Ms. J, a book fell off the shelf on the floor"

Me: Ok...then pick it up...

Student: OH!

They've all got their individual needs and issues which overwhelm me to deal with sometimes.

Answer 1

I'm a 6th grade science teacher.  I know for sure that being a teacher made me prepare a bit for fatherhood because when I look at my class I see every child as an individual with their own needs and each one with their own personality.  This part helps because then you know that you've worked with most of the different kinds of people and then you feel ready that you will be able to cope up with your children.

Now that I look at it a bit fatherhood is very different from being a teacher because as a father you live with your children 24/7 so you get everything and as a teacher you only see one side of your student so you kind of get deceived by that fact.  Remember though that a class is much bigger so you have more children and that's why it might feel a bit overwhelming.  Trust me though, being a parent gives you utmost joy.

Answer 2

Being a parent is definitely different than teaching. I'm a third grade teacher and have a 7 1/2 month old son.

I feel the same about the officer/peace keeper thing. I'm glad to here that some else feels the same way.

I am more tolerant of my school kids now that I have had a baby. I always remember now that this is someone else's baby.

I have come kids that are VERY needy. They think you are supposed to ooh and ah over every little thing. Some days I want to pull my hair out.

Answer 3

As a parent, you learn all the individual needs of a your own child like strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, habits...etc.

I guess it would be harder for a teacher with so many students in a class. You don't get to know them like a parent knows them.  Teachers get to hand the kids back to the parent at the end of the school day so I think it's totally different. Considering too that most parents parent differently when it comes to thing like rules and dicipline, manners and behavior.  I hope that made sense lol. I know what I meant! : )

Answer 4

Well they certainly all have their individual needs and issues at home, too, but there's something about your own kids that makes it easier to take than it is in other people's kids.  And one or two (or four) kids is definitely easier than 20!

(My recommendation for your example -- instead of saying pick it up, say "what do you think you could do about that?"  And if you see somebody handling a problem on their own, stop and compliment them for it.  Pretty soon others will be trying to get compliments that way, too).

Answer 5

Well, it is different. I was an elementary teacher - mostly third and second grade.

Your own children have your heart - that's the biggest difference. When you are a teacher, you are close to your students, but it's not the same.

The things which will help you later as a parent are the things regarding discipline and positive reinforcement, consequences for behaviour, etc. - because as a teacher you will already have these mastered.

For example, some people question why Supernanny can do all she does since she doesn't have children of her own -- but it's simply from working with children (either being a nanny or teaching), that you have a great skill set regarding guidelines and discipline.

And, above all, YOU will be instilling your own values, etc. into your children - so they will not grow up to be whining and needy - lol....