Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I have been a teacher for 11 years. I loved what I did and where I worked and went to school happy everyday. I worked my butt off to get where I am. A bachelors degree, a masters degree and 30 extra credits of professional development. I make a great salary. Have amazing health insurance and a nice retirement set up. And all I want to do is quit every single day.

Teaching is not what it used to be. My day is no longer about my students and their well being, it is about paper work and testing and meetings and trainings. I thought as my dd got older (she will be 2 tomorrow) that it would get easier. But its getting harder. I just had a miscarriage this past week and the stress I have about having to take the week off is eatting at me. I want to be with my dd everyday. She is growing so fast. If she gets sick I battle between being home for her and the guilt of taking off of work. I just dont want to do it anymore. I dont enjoy it like I once did. I cry on my way to work still. I stress out so much about trying to do it all.

Has anyone ever felt this strongly about leaving your career? And if so what was your final decision and how did you make it? I would quit in 2 seconds if it was just a "job" but this is a career. I worked hard. How do I choose

Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Can you take off for the year to reevaluate? I know that's what my cousin is currently doing. She's has enough years in so she asked them for a year off and they ok'd it. She's not getting paid but her pension is still there and her job is there come next Sept.

Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I left my teaching career to be with ds. Similar to you I was teaching for 8 years had a masters and four certifications. I know I'll go back one day but for now I wanted to be the one to take care of DS. People thought I was nuts but I have 0 regrets.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I can't afford to not work, but if I could afford it I'd quit in a heartbeat.

I can always go back to work. My DD will never be a toddler again.

Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I'm a school psychologist and quit when DS was born. Don't regret it for a second, although I miss working bc I was a workaholic. A job will always be there, your DC is little for a short time. If you can swing it financially, I would say take a few years off.

Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

im not a teacher but i did have a career that i enjoyed.
it holds no candle whatsoever so being home with my DD for the last 18m. not a candle.
i did not plan to be home, lots of stuff happened which resulted in it. but being here for her has been amazing. i am already sad and guilty that if/when i have another child i will likely be unable to give this type of time to them.
if you are financially able to have this time with your child, and you WANT to do it, then there is no reason at all not to. as others have said, the career will be there, esp as a teacher where you CAN go back. but your DDs childhood will not.
good luck!!

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I'm there with you! Think about leaving all the time. I have 2 kids.

What keeps me going is knowing that when DS goes to kindergarten I'd be bored out of my mind. I can't take a year or two off without losing my position... Which is pretty amazing... So I push through.

It's pretty hard though. Especially when I see so many people not working!

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I am also a teacher and feel exactly the way you do! I know that I am very lucky to have this job and there are tons of people who want my job. I would give it up in a second if I could! I think every day about what I can do to make that possible. Ideally I would want to work part time so that I could be with my kids and still contribute to our household finances. I have a 3 year old and a 5 week old. I still have 2 months of maternity leave left and I'm already dreading going back. I've been able to take my 3 year old to school and pick her up, I've gone on field trips with her; all the things I can't do while working. Every day I try to think of ways to be home more with them. There has to be something we can do with our degrees and experience that would be part time or work from home, right?? Whatever it is, I haven't figured it out yet! I hope to figure it out soon!!

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I left my career to be home with my DS. I did 4 yrs of undergrad, 2 yrs of post-bacc, then 5 yrs of grad school + 1 year residency/internship and then walked away. None of that mattered bc the only thing that I wanted, actually needed, was to be home with my DS. I actually really enjoyed what I was doing. There was no hesitation on my part. I knew that once my contract at work was up, I was done. DH supported me completely.

I will be starting to work PT soon. Only 2 days a week. It is an incredible opportunity that I don't want to pass up. I am ready to work although not at the expense of being away from my DS 5 days a week. I didn't consider anything until I was ready. If this hadn't come about, I'd be fine continuing to be a SAHM full-time.

You have to do what is best for you. It you hate it that much, I don't see why you should stay. Life is too short to be miserable and unhappy. I agree that time passes quickly and they just grow up so fast. Good luck with figuring it all out.

P.S. I used to cry every day on the train on my way to work. It never got easier for me. I left work when DS was 51 weeks old.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I feel the same exact way... I hate it! I wrote a similar post on teacher board a few months back. Hang i. There sorry for your loss!

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I didn't love my job when I left - it had become less about helping people and protecting the community, and more about the politics of the job and playing nice with the higher-ups. I was THRILLED to be able to leave.

I have a master's degree as well, 7 years of undergrad and graduate school, and I was making a very nice salary. I am totally serious when I tell you that I could not care less about that money. Being home with my kids has been awesome. Hard? Yes, very, but so was my job. It's all about the little moments with my kids, and how I'm not missing them anymore. Plus I have found that I'm actually a really good housewife I looooove to cook, I can clean pretty well, and I have a lot of SAHM friends so there's always something to do.

The way I see it is that you can always go back to work. You'll never get this time back with your DD. If you can, I would.

Hugs! I know it's not an easy decision.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Yes, felt the same and sometimes still do! I am a school admin and some days hate it more than anything...you are right, it's not what it used to be, I loved working. I can't afford to quit, just bought a house a year ago and had #2 two weeks ago. Sorry for your loss. By any chance do you have a special ed degree. If so, you could always work for an agency, make your own hours and work as little or as much as you want. Just a thought. If not, maybe try taking a leave and see how you feel in a couple of months/year. Good luck.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

So sorry abt your loss. I think if u can do it financially then u should do what's best for u. It's true, a job is a job & u may find while home something else u can enjoy doing in that field.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I'm sorry for your loss.

And I understand where you're at. Last June I quit teaching after 15 years. I worked in NYC, had a long commute, and staying seemed like it would take more effort than leaving, even with the loss of my salary. I felt I'd missed enough and wanted to be able to be involved in her education as much as possible.

I won't lie, it's been hard. But I am so much happier now. I haven't been cursed out by a teenager in months and I don't have to get up at 4:30 in the morning. I have no regrets about quitting.

Also, this is a great time to get in on the e-learning boom, IMO. I just landed a PT job writing curriculum for a non-profit, and I'm waiting to hear about another PT position. Ideally I'll be able to make a decent salary just working from home. Feel free to FM me if you have questions, and good luck.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I could have written your post word for word. I am a teacher too. It has changed so dramatically over the past 12 years of my career. I wish I had the ability to stay home and raise my DD but financially it's not an option for us. I know all too well how you feel and I'm so sorry for your recent loss.

Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Wow thanks for all the feedback. I would take a years leave at first to see how it goes. My aunt works for a private special ed agency and I spoke to her tonigjt and she said the independent consultants make $65 an hour and I can work how ever many hrs I want which would be about 10. I am going to do some research and get some numbers together and then have a sit down with dh. This wouldnt happen until sept anyway so I have time to get dh on board (hopefully)

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I feel the same as you about my career. But, you have just been through a very traumatic experience. I think that maybe you should give yourself some time to heal, and re think this in the spring.

I am very sorry for your loss.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I feel the same as you about my career. But, you have just been through a very traumatic experience. I think that maybe you should give yourself some time to heal, and re think this in the spring.

I am very sorry for your loss.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I just want to say that these days (even with all the great vacation time!) i am feeling sorry or a lot of teachers..i work in an elementary school as a librarian so i know what you are talking about. i have beeng doing this for almost 13 years and it is NOT what it used to be. it really is all about testing and testing and testing. everything in our district in micro-managed to death. this is just part of it. add in the public's opinions about teachers 'having it easy' and not doing enough etc. it's rough.
it is a hard enough job as it is and i can see the joy being sucked out completely. even silly things like no more classroom parties or treats for birthdays are a reality. i think it's sad. can't even bring in a munchkin to celebrate a birthday.
anyway. obviously parties and munchkins don't have anything to do with your decision but i just wanted to tell you that i get where you are coming from. you guys are under a lot of pressure these days.

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

You r not alone!! I have a dd who is 2 1/2 n ive been teaching just as long as u... Im stressed out beyond words... All bout the data n grouping students n makin sure their scores go up! It's just too much pressure!!! I feel like i need to b on meds some days

I am a special ed teacher n 65 an hour is a pretty sweet pay for part time... Do u need to kno aba ? I really dont have training on that. One other thing i feel like 55/25 if ur enrolled is not that far away n the retirement benefits are good...so that's one thing keepin me n of course the salary since livin on long island isnt cheap. I have such mixed emotions bc i wonder if ill even make it to retirement

Re: Such an overwhelming feeling of wanting to quit my career

I always thought I would be a FTWM, until DS #1 was born.

After that, my attitude towards work changed. It was an obligation, a means to a paycheck, I didn't get the same fulfillment from it that I did prior to being a Mom.

So, an opportunity came up for DH and I became a SAHM when he was 14 months old, and had another baby since. I have been home almost 4 years now, and I love it. There has not been one day that I have missed working.

I was 37 years old and had been in the corporate world for over 14 years. It was a big adjustment to leave. But I am glad I did.

I am sorry for your loss! I know that is affecting you too. I would definitely look into the possibility of you being home in the future, and discuss with your DH.