I'm in school getting my MS in Elementary Ed. We will have our wedding, I will student teach that following semester, and I will graduate in December of 2007. Here is my dilema: I want to be a young mother. I want to have children very soon after we're married. And I feel like that is not going to be possible until I a) secure a teaching job and b) get tenured. I was thinking if we start trying in October of 2007 or October of 2008, we would have a July baby, which would not interfere with the school year if I have a teaching job.
So my question is, do you get maternity leave as an untenured teacher? Has anyone had any experience with this? Any words of wisdom?
Thanks!
susdoug
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
by law they have to give you a maternity leave. My friend actually did that...she is untenured, her due date was July 4, she gave birth June 14! She took maternity leave the last few weeks of school. Depends on the district, and principal. By law they can't tell you not to get pregnant before your tenure, but they do hold the right to choose not to have you back. My advice, wait until you are tenure.
rojerono
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
My gf got pregnant her first year of teaching. She had outstanding reviews and attendance.. they were telling her that they felt she would be an excellent addition to the department. She had the baby in January and was back in March - her last few reviews were equally stellar.. When they offered her a position for September it was NOT a regular teaching position, it was leave replacement. They offered several other girls in her department regular positions and she felt that the reason her offer was leave replacement only was because of her pregnancy.
She did find another job before the next school year and is now tenured at the new school.
I guess you CAN do it... but as the previous poster advised... they don't really have to have you back, so you may be taking your job into your own hands.
You could consider planning a baby for late June... but be aware the baby may come early, or that things may happen that make you not able to return to school in September.
I am curious why you would like to be a young mother, and if waiting 3-4 years will make you 'not young'? Would you mind sharing?
MichLiz213
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
Posted by rojerono
I am curious why you would like to be a young mother, and if waiting 3-4 years will make you 'not young'? Would you mind sharing?
My parents were 21 when they had me, so that's probably where my 'young' mindset kicks in. If I wait 3 years, I'll be 27, which is young, but not AS young (not that there's anything wrong with it, but I'm scared I won't be able to have any if I wait too long-this is a fear not based on anything either). And that's pending I get a teaching job right after graduation.
Then in the back of my head, waiting a few years doesn't sound like a bad idea, because I want to travel with FH. I want to see Hawaii and Europe and Alaska. I want to save some money.
It's just all weighing heavy on my mind, this struggle between wanting a career and wanting a family.
CLMon7906
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
Granted, it would be easier to have the baby in the summer and not worry about the 6 weeks you LEGALLY are not allowed to work and worry about evil bosses who might terminate or demote you when you return...but that is no way to live your life!
LEGALLY you are given 6 weeks off...your body is healing and you could hurt yourself if you are straining your mind and body working.
If you want a child sooner than later, you should go for it. Things happen for a reason...and if a future boss doesn't understand that, it wasn't meant to be. Just work hard and be the best you can be...honestly, if you get great reviews and what not and still got demoted or let go, someone somewhere might have some explaining to do.
eta-i personally am a young mom now and told DH that i do not wish to really be pregnant in my 30s [lots of issues on my mother's side with blood pressure] for health reasons [why put myself at risk for something that i am highly at risk for] AND because i simply don't want to be at high school graduations when i'm 60 [i'd rather be on an island somewhere] AND b/c there's a long history of early menopause in my family so i know my fertile days are numbered...i just don't want to risk not having a family with DH [my daughter is his step-daughter]. those are my reasons for wanting to continue growing our family NOW as opposed to later. i'd rather have a loving family than a big fancy house or tons of money....
Kara and Todd
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
By law they can't tell you not to get pregnant before your tenure, but they do hold the right to choose not to have you back. My advice, wait until you are tenure.
They cannot use the fact that you have a child as the basis for not taking you back. I'm not saying isn't done, but it's not legal.
RadioLau
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
You do get maturnity leave as an untenured teacher although I would advise to only take the absolute minimum until you are tenured. You can't always expect to get pregnant exactly when you want though so you can try to plan on a July baby but don't get disappointed if you don't get preggo right away. Sometimes it takes a little longer. (I am not a mom, just a teacher that works in a school and hears people talk.) Good luck!!
curiousgeorge
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
In these days a career in Elementary education is SO hard to come by. This career is so rewarding too! To me a career is so important, especially if you spent alot of time in college to get that degree!! You want to be able to provide 100% for your children and be able to afford other things as well. Like the other ladies said, You may not get prego the month you want to get prego, you may have the child early, you could have some minor complications. You may have a difficult pregnancy. I pray that these dont happen, but you cant be sure. But this is such a personal issue between your husband and yourself, when it comes down to it...you guys are really the ones who need to make this decision!! We can just give you advice based on our own opinions. My opinion is to wait. Good luck.
jmorris
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
I know how you feel b/c I am in a similar situation....for me I am a bit older and am going to start trying now, even though I don't have a permanent job or tenure.....If I was younger I WOULD NOT be doing this....I am planning to try and give birth in July (early)...but that means interviewing pregnant....not a good thing....the only thing I can say is that you must make it known that you have every intention of working the next school year and hope that they don't hold that against you.....I know a friend who took maternity leave when she was a leave replacement for someone on maternity leave and she got a permanent position for the following year and took another maternity leave that January and they didn't hold it against her.....but I know another friend who was not asked back and she was pregnant due in November and she was a first year teacher in that district.....I would say it depends on the district....if you get a job...do every little thing they throw your way....chapperone volunteer....what ever it takes to get yourself in highstanding with not just the principal, but all of the administrators....
CLMon7906
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
Posted by jmorris
I know how you feel b/c I am in a similar situation....for me I am a bit older and am going to start trying now, even though I don't have a permanent job or tenure.....If I was younger I WOULD NOT be doing this....I am planning to try and give birth in July (early)...but that means interviewing pregnant....not a good thing....the only thing I can say is that you must make it known that you have every intention of working the next school year and hope that they don't hold that against you.....I know a friend who took maternity leave when she was a leave replacement for someone on maternity leave and she got a permanent position for the following year and took another maternity leave that January and they didn't hold it against her.....but I know another friend who was not asked back and she was pregnant due in November and she was a first year teacher in that district.....I would say it depends on the district....if you get a job...do every little thing they throw your way....chapperone volunteer....what ever it takes to get yourself in highstanding with not just the principal, but all of the administrators....
exactly. and like someone else stated, this is a personal choice. you cannot control how smoothly your future pregnancies will go...on the flip side, you cannot control how your career will go REGARDLESS of bearing children. chances are good that many of the 'horror stories' of women who had kids w/o tenure are leaving out some facts and details that clue us in to the real picture. not many people would say 'i was fired b/c i _______________' it's easier to blame it on the maternity leave. i know i worked somewhere once that had issues and no one was quite sure who it was...once the pregnant girl was gone for maternity leave, it became obvious she was the culprit. they let her go.
iffy
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
You can take maternity leave...6 weeks...that is law...but I have to tell you, there was no WAY I would have gone back to work when either of my children were 6 weeks old. Just my opinion...they are way too young...and I was still up a whole lot at night at that point - really hard to get thru a day at work when you haven't slept...and especially if you aren't tenured yet. Until you're tenured - especially your tenure year, you are going above & beyond the bell schedule...there's a whole lot of unemployed elem. teachers out there just waiting for your job....
Once you're tenured, there is certainly something in your union contract about what you are allowed to take for a leave of absence. This is without pay, but they will hold your job for you...again - once you're tenured. In my district, it's 2 years allowed per child.
Honestly - in my opinion - I would just concentrate on work & my new family (you & fh!)...enjoy the first couple of years doing couple stuff...weekends away, lazy sundays, just hanging out together....and have a baby after you get tenured, because those babies change everything! And you don't want to add a new mouth to feed to a family while you have to worry about if you will lose your job!
Good luck....it will all work out the way it is meant to ...
ncd623
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Re: NWR: Baby Blues-Need Advice
Just a note from experience*** Although I wish you well, Just because you want to try in October and have a July baby ..... it may not be that simple. I know I sound negative and I do not mean to, but I too had that same attitude and I was quickly put in my place by the realities of life. My advice to you is, if you want to be a young mom and that is important to you than just go for it while your young. You never know what life has in store for you!!!
