TheApple

 For me, it's merely time and energy! Once I'm finished with my work at school, I find it sort of challenging to find the time and energy to apply towards my own children. I've tried vitamins, extra sleep (naps during lunch), and dare I say it, a Red Bull or two. Even when I have a set routine, sometimes I can veer off into zombie land.

What say you? What is your biggest challenge in being both a teacher and parent?

Well, you can certainly relate with the handling of your sister! Yes, I do get some downtime during the summer, but once September rears its head, I'm on the move again! I've substituted hot chocolate for hot coffee (although, I must admit the urge and giving in of iced coffee, yummy!).

SBonilla07 says 

I know how hard it is for parents that work and have children. I work at a child center and since it's summer time, I bring my sister to my job. It's actually good because she kind of helps me with the other kids. Even though she's 3.5 yrs old, she is brilliant I would say. Now that she starts school, I have to wake up early, feed her, dress her, take her to school, then go to work and walk those children to school. You know what helps me??? A jog at the park because it gets me pumped up for the day, and COFFEE!!! Now, that I start school again, I'm stressed out!! Maybe it's a good thing I don't have kids of my own, but for now I'm a full- time mother/sister. That's my challenge!

I think I need to permanently hook myself up to an IV pumping pure sugar cane in my veins! haha

Oprah who? 

apple4blea says ...

BIGGEST CHALLENGE:  Pure exhaustion in the extreme sense! 

 

When most of my girlfriends are getting off of work with elementary kiddos, they're looking forward to going home to nap, watch Oprah, ...

Not ME!  The show is just getting started!

 

Three necessities:   coffee (all day long) -  "me" time at least once a week  -  naps as long as kids let me

Haha the time goes devilishly fast, doesn't it?

I honestly try to nap when my youngest naps, but it's difficult at times. Thankfully, my oldest is beyond independent, but if I could attach an automatic shut-off button to myself, I'd be better off.

sanmccarron says ...

apple4blea says ...

BIGGEST CHALLENGE:  Pure exhaustion in the extreme sense! 

 

When most of my girlfriends are getting off of work with elementary kiddos, they're looking forward to going home to nap, watch Oprah, ...

Not ME!  The show is just getting started!

 

Three necessities:   coffee (all day long) -  "me" time at least once a week  -  naps as long as kids let me

Do you know that kinesthetic song "One finger, one thumb keep moving"?  Make that your theme song (as it has been mine) and "we'll all be happy and gay".

My children are ages 20, 19, 18 and 12.  The third one (18) moved into college yesterday and I now have just one at home.  When the first three were little I worked full time, 8 - 5, 12 months a year.  I napped when they napped, or not at all.  This seems like just last week!  Where did the time go?

 In a word: TIME. There never seems to be enough of it. Making ends meet would be second. But as for energy, well, that I still have enough of, thank God.

My 9.5 started the fourth grade last week. I'm happy; yet, all summer long he was testing me! I'd have to nudge him more than ever or he'd try to "talk back". I predict this year will be a hefty one. I don't even want to think about the middle school years 

Deven says ...

I work in a middle school and my one child, a 14-year-old son who now towers over me (and I'm a touch over 6'1) starts high school on Wednesday. The good news is that he is more independent now. The bad news is that he is more independent now. Even though it is great to have conversations with him and be awed at all he knows (though not as much as he thinks), sometimes I long for the days when he was so young that when I put him down somewhere he stayed there untill my wife or I moved him. I've had few good sleeps since those days, and tongiht he was with a couple of his older friends and they were talking about driving lessons. One more thing to worry about.

 

 In 1991 my daughterted  was 6 months and I was invited to work in other town. I accepted their offer. One month later I started to teach in one school  in a village near my town, a school in my town and evening classes for adults in a private school.I left my home at 6 am and returned at 10 pm. When I reached 46 kg. my family got worried and they forbid me to work. I was so tired that one time I didn't get off the bus in my town but 100 km away. It was 11 pm.I didn't have a car then. Luckily, I have a friend there and he drove me back home.

From today's point of view I wonder how I managed to work so many hours. I couldn't do it now.

Biggest challenge . . . that is hard to say.  Let's take a look at what is involved here.

1. teaching three new preps


2. trying to complete a once a month graduate course


3. a wife that is returning to school to finish her degree.


4. three children in elementary school and one in preschool


5. an intercollegiate soccer referee schedule


6. a new dog


7. several district level committees


8. and volunteered to be an assistant hs bowling club sponsor

And to think that I look forward to my day at school when all is calm and quiet.