First year teacher....with a newborn?

Question

I have been working on my alternative teaching certification and was planning on applying and, hopefully, landing an elementary teaching job by next summer. However, I just found out my husband and I are going to have a baby. My question is: should I try to be a first-year teacher with a newborn baby at home, or do you think it would be too demading and I would face burn-out after my first year? Thanks for the answes!

Answer 1

If you can afford to not work, I recommend you don't try to teach with a newborn.  You will just be working to pay for day care.

Answer 2

Enjoy the gift of god in all its fragrance and love. You have lot and lot of time to go for teaching.  But this time, that is being with the child and enthrilling by its every moment during the first two years you can never releish in life.  Be a very good mother with all love and affection then you will extend the same universally. Wish you all the best.

Answer 3

I only taught for 3 years....but I would say that a first year teacher with a newborn might not be the best for the kids you teach...or for you, the newborn..and your husband. Just my thoughts:)

Answer 4

well i knew a teacher that was pregnant when she got pregnant and her baby was due around january.  she chose to still work because of financial obligations.  she had alot of support from her husband and really utilized her time wisely, tried getting everything done at school so that she didnt have to bring anything home.  it was a little challenging but she made it through.  so yeah it depends on you and what type of person you are.  the first year is pretty difficult but maybe by the time your baby is born you will be in the swing of things and it wouldnt be so hard.

Answer 5

If I were you, I'd choose the baby over teaching.  Yes, you could technically do it.  But, you know what? You will be thinking about that baby while you are at school.  You are going to be wondering if the baby is okay.  You will miss out on critical developmental stages of the child's life by being at school.

Plus, the first year of teaching is the hardest.  It is the most stressful and I think you'd end up wishing you had just stayed home if there is a newborn involved.  One of the hardest things about the first year teaching is the fact that teachers over-do it.  I've seen so many first year teachers get burnt out because they were doing too much.  These are people who didn't even have newborns.  I'm talking about teachers who worked a second job or became involved in too many school activities.  Before long, they were nothing but fatigued.

You have to also remember that that newborn is going to be up crying at night.  You will lose sleep, and teaching will not give you time to rest during the day.  If do it, you will feel worn out, stressed out, and run down.  I know it.  One of my very close friends is at home with her newborn right now.  She isn't even working and she is worn out.  

Also, remember the critical stages a newborn goes through.  Sometimes, newborns have to see a doctor frequently for things like jaundice.  You can ALWAYS get a job teaching, but you won't be able to get back the time that you didn't spend with your baby.

Answer 6

We had a teacher who was a first  year teacher and had a baby during the first year. The only complaint she had was that she missed the baby. I have seen some teachers bring their babies to class some days. If you have a husband who is supportive and family that will babysit the baby while you are at work, then go for it! You will enjoy 24 hours a day of working with children and taking care of your own. Students will be compassionate when you tell them "My baby was sick all night last night. So I didn't get any sleep! Please pay attention in class."

Answer 7

That is totally dependant up on many variables including how well you handle stress, how difficult the students are at your school, how supportive the administration is, the demeanor and health and sleep habits of your baby, etc.

The first year is very difficult even in a good school because you are learning how to juggle it all, handle the students, choose your preferred methods of operating as a teacher, etc.  Doing all of that while sleep deprived will not be easy.  Also, I've seen a friend who was a 2nd year teacher feel guilty going home exhausted from dealing with the students and feeling she was not giving her own child her best, just the fragments left at the end of the day.

If you are the overachieving type, you will be tired but fine.  If you are not, you should consider spending that first year with your baby and going to work the next year.  Parenting is overwhelming with that first child and all the new changes, and your relationship with your spouse may be strained as well dealing with all the new stress, demands, lack of personal time, etc.

Answer 8

No question it would be difficult and you would have to have all your plans for daycare, etc in place.  The biggest obstacle I can see would be your administrator.  How sympathetic would s/he be to your situation, and remember first year teachers have no tenure.  If I were you and if it were financially possible, I would take that first year off.