Whether a mom stays home for a few years after having a baby, or whether she gets back in the work force right away, making family the main concern is a recurring theme for moms no matter what they choose. There is no single best way to negotiate the decision of staying home or going to work, because each family has to make the determination based on what’s best for them and for their kids. No matter the decision, it’s a pretty sure bet that moms want to make sure their children have enough quality family time at the end of the day.
For a lot of moms, working a typical 9 to 5 job just doesn’t fit because they want more time with their families. They might be thinking about trying to find a job that suits the schedule and life of a busy family, including school, work, soccer and more. Moms who are trying to figure out a job that’s more realistic for their lives may want to think about going back to school to get an education degree.
Getting an education degree may be the right move for moms who want more flexibility in their schedules. Being a teacher means a different set of working hours and days that better matches what their children’s school schedule is. While a teacher still works from Monday through Friday, there are a lot of other days off during the year, too. Most of the days off that a teacher has match with the kids’ days off, except for teacher in service days or other scheduled workdays when kids don’t go to school, but teachers do.
If your kids are home from school from June until mid-August, you will be, too, except for preparatory days immediately before and after the school year. School holidays won’t be a childcare nightmare anymore, because you’ll be out enjoying time with your family. The added expense of paying for childcare on days off from school will largely be a non-existent worry, because you’ll be at home and in charge.
You will have to decide how long you want to attend school and what age children you want to teach, because there are several degree options available in education. Teaching young children at the Pre-K level generally requires a two year associate degree in early childhood education. Most states require a certification to teach at this level, and the certification process is often part of the graduation requirement in these programs.
Teachers who teach at the elementary school level and higher need to complete a bachelor’s degree in order to teach. Students who get a bachelor’s degree in a particular subject such as English or history will also need to complete an education certification with the state they will be teaching in before they will be allowed to teach. Other aspiring teachers will work to receive a bachelor’s degree in education, often with a specialized focus, like K – 5 education or science education. Your college will be able to help guide you in choosing your major and education specialty. Another good source of information is your state’s department of education website.
People who want to teach also have lots of opportunities to get money to help them pay for school. There are federal programs that are specifically for education students, like the TEACH grant. The TEACH grant provides funding for college in exchange for four years of teaching at a designated low-income school. The TEACH grant can give aspiring teachers a chance to walk away from college with far less student debt, as well as the opportunity to teach in an environment in which they can create a lasting effect on student’s and their families.
For moms, their masters in education can be an ideal tool to have the best of both worlds: time with their kids and an opportunity for a great career. If students are thinking about engaging in accredited distance learning degree programs in order to improve their employment opportunities, and a job with a schedule that gives time with your children, teaching may be just right as a career move. You’ll have a rewarding career that makes a difference in the life of your family and in other children’s lives as well.