Posted by Bridget:
Thank you all! These are great ideas for now. My husband and I are blessed that we can afford for me to have the time off, although the income that I bring in is still "essential" to our long term financial goals if that makes sense. We are lucky to volunteer with the jr high and high school ministries at our church, so we also have an army of willing high school kids to come watch our little one, as well as an adult group that we meet with who are very helpful and generous. As far as the high school students go for teaching younger ones, I have one in mind that may be great for this, but I know she is very busy with marching band and other extracurriculars. I don't think these will still be in effect in March, but I may ask her about it. I got my own start teaching as a high school intern for my teacher, but it was a year-round position for several years, not just for a few weeks or maternity leave. How do you handle the several week transition? And how do you recommend payment for the younger students' parents? As a high school intern I obviously didn't make as much as I do now as a professional teacher, so what do you do in this situation? I have also thought about taking 4 weeks off at least, then slowly going into it, maybe having every other week lessons for another 4-6 weeks, perhaps mailing or emailing out work or packets to supplement the off weeks. I have only been teaching as a main source of income for about 2 years now (always done part-time in the past), so I'd love to hear from more experienced teachers on their thoughts here. And this is my first child, I truly don't know what the delivery and recovery will be like! I know some people are up and about and ready to go after 3-4 weeks while others need about 3 months to fully recover. I know my students' families will be understanding of whatever our situation is, I would just like to have a plan in place for both situations I guess.
Thank you all! These are great ideas for now. My husband and I are blessed that we can afford for me to have the time off, although the income that I bring in is still "essential" to our long term financial goals if that makes sense. We are lucky to volunteer with the jr high and high school ministries at our church, so we also have an army of willing high school kids to come watch our little one, as well as an adult group that we meet with who are very helpful and generous. As far as the high school students go for teaching younger ones, I have one in mind that may be great for this, but I know she is very busy with marching band and other extracurriculars. I don't think these will still be in effect in March, but I may ask her about it. I got my own start teaching as a high school intern for my teacher, but it was a year-round position for several years, not just for a few weeks or maternity leave. How do you handle the several week transition? And how do you recommend payment for the younger students' parents? As a high school intern I obviously didn't make as much as I do now as a professional teacher, so what do you do in this situation? I have also thought about taking 4 weeks off at least, then slowly going into it, maybe having every other week lessons for another 4-6 weeks, perhaps mailing or emailing out work or packets to supplement the off weeks. I have only been teaching as a main source of income for about 2 years now (always done part-time in the past), so I'd love to hear from more experienced teachers on their thoughts here. And this is my first child, I truly don't know what the delivery and recovery will be like! I know some people are up and about and ready to go after 3-4 weeks while others need about 3 months to fully recover. I know my students' families will be understanding of whatever our situation is, I would just like to have a plan in place for both situations I guess.