A few weeks ago I signed an intent to leave form because my employer was offering a $500 dollar bonus to anyone who informed them in advance that they would be leaving. Well I already know that my plan is to leave after this school year, so why not cash in on that? But now the leak is out and spreading and my co-workers are slowly finding out one by one. Of course everyone wants a dang good reason for you to be departing from the most rewarding and noble job there is. I end up explaining my reasons and since I've done this every day this week, here it is in writing:- As a freshman in college I took several human development courses and learned that when planning to have children it's a good thing if the mother starts preparing a year in advance. As Aaron and I have finally reached a place in our lives where the time is almost right, I want to start preparing.
- I've started studying textbooks on preparing for pregnancy. (I'm a little embarrassed to admit that) Anyways, I read a chapter about stress and how it can affect your fertility and future fetus. Teaching is very stressful and a lot of responsibility. I've been entrusted with the education of 32 children, and the state will be coming into my classroom soon to test that knowledge. I'm only sorta' freaking out! Working 60 hours a week isn't really recommended either.
- As I pondered this I thought about how my husband will make an income where it will be possible for me to stay home if I want. The plan has always been for me to teach a second year while being pregnant. After talking, reading, and praying together it just made sense that I be in a job that I can terminate at any given time without traumatizing small children.
- Not only that but a job that when I leave I'm really done. A job where I don't come home and still have 3 more hours of work to do. A job where I don't lay in bed worrying about how I'm ever going to get Timmy to read, how I'm going to handle Alex's next anxiety attack, or if my kids are being abused tonight.
- Then there is the selfish reason: the time will be nice. With a new home and life style it's time to transition into the next phase.
- Not to mention I can make about an extra $5,000 a year working in an office! How stupid is that!
Teaching has been so rewarding and I LOVE it! It's just not the right choice for our upcoming lives. I've gotten so many different reactions to this, and most people just want to talk about their lives and how they made it through teaching while pregnant and their kids turned out mostly normal. But today a literacy aid I work with looked me in the eyes and said, "I chose to take care of my family, and I have never regretted it a day of my life." THANK YOU LINDA!!!P.S. no, I'm not pregnant :) that's always the next question.
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