Working with children

[Ornery]

I have been a SAHM for almost 7 years. Before that, I was a paralegal who was going to law school. My priorities have changed (along with the economy) and my current plan is to start nursing school next fall and become a pediatric nurse. I'm finishing up my prereqs and have been conditionally accepted into my school.

My youngest son's preschool has been begging me to help them out as a teacher's aide for years. It is through the school district and I thought it would be a great way to get more experience working with children.

I love the job. Love working with kids and am doing great. It is only 24 hours a week so not too horrible in time away from the family. However, I work so hard during those 6 hours a day at being positive and patient and kind and energetic and all those wonderful things that when I get home, I am not being a the mom I want to be to my children! And I'm not talking about a messy house or unhealthy meals. I'm talking about my interactions with my kids. I'm not patient, I'm not kind, I'm not positive. In fact, I've found myself yelling quite often over the smallest stuff.

What can I do to balance things out? How do others work through this? I'm considering quitting even though I love it because I don't think it is fair to my kids.

[Ellien C]

Are you giving yourself transition time between work and home? Could you create some kind of space (head space, physical space, time space or all three) to move out of pre-school teacher, work mode and into Mommy mode? It sounds like some of the frustrations from the day are sliding over into home.

for myself, I always try to run home, change out of my work clothes, put my breast pump and milk away, sort mail and MAYBE get a handle on dinner and then run back out to fetch 2 kids from 2 different places. All this happens in like 10 minutes. It works much better for me than going directly from work.

[Ornery]

Interesting thought. I ride the bus home with the children and they drop me off with my youngest on my door step. Of course, then the evening dinner, dishes, activities, feeding animals, doing homework, laundry, cleaning, etc, rush is on and I don't get a minute to myself until after 10. I've streamlined what I have to do on the days I work so it isn't nearly as much as I would do on any other evening.

The funny thing is that I don't really feel any frustrations with the children at work. There are a few that are a bit more spirited or challenging but it is kind of fun to find out how best to work with them to suit their learning/playing style. I see them as acting age appropriately, but when my child of the same age does the exact same thing at home, I get upset.

[spedteacher30]

Working in a school is very difficult on one's patience toward other children. I used to teach before I had children, and would find myself snapping at my 7th period class because they were asking questions that 1st period had asked, and I would feel like, "I've already said this 5 times today! Why don't you remember?" even though 7th period was hearing it for the first time, not the 6th...

So, no advice, just commiseration because it is very common. My parents were both teachers, but neither one worked with young children. Do you have to ride the bus with the children? Can you drive yourself and have your children take the bus? Even that little bit of downtime might help.

What about sending your children outside to play while you start dinner?

[Ornery]

I do need to ride the bus at this time but I will definitely try to carve out some time for myself. We are the last stop so for the last 10 minutes, maybe I can read a book or listen to some music.

Thanks for the thoughts and commiseration, ladies.