LittleLegends.biz

… if so you are not alone.   This article by Jennifer Senior has caused outrage.  It basically says that having children does not make you happier.   In Texas childcare ranks below preparing food, watching TV, exercising, talking on the phone, napping, shopping and even housework!  Whereas children used to be economic assets now it is often the case that the world revolves around them and their needs.  There is a huge amount of guilt surrounding parenting and “getting it right” in the eyes of others.  As a result of parents are running around after their children trying to be “perfect” they often end up exhausted and then their relationships start suffering.

Senior is most accurate when she writes:

Children may provide unrivaled moments of joy. But they also provide unrivaled moments of frustration, tedium, anxiety, heartbreak.

Senior’s article will not come as any great surprise to most parents.  However, it has been given a provocative title (like this post) to make the issue appear black and white.  Obviously this over-simplifies the matter but there is nothing like stirring up a bit of outrage because it is definitely taboo to admit that you don’t love every moment of parenthood.

When you have children it can take time to adjust to their needs and you are bound to have moments when you are driven half-crazy by your kids, but this doesn’t stop you loving them any less.  It certainly doesn’t mean you hate parenting.  It is more likely to mean that you enjoy and need a well-earned break from time to time.

Let’s face it, if we all hated parenting no one would ever have more than one child and this is definitely not the case! So, if there are any cons, they are definitely outweighed by the pros.

Having just qualified as a Secondary School Teacher  I have had an amazing insight into what happens behind the scenes in schools.

Piers (my brother) is a teacher and I never really understood why he used to go off the radar during term-time.   Now I know better!  Teachers are generally perceived as having an “easy life” because they have apparently short hours and long holidays.  However, this could not be further from the truth.  All the teachers I know work tirelessly behind the scenes, coming in early and staying late to support students, attend meetings, communicate with parents, plan lessons, mark work, receive further training and many other things.  They are  not paid for this extra work  but they generally don’t mind about it because they love what they do and are dedicated to their jobs.  Although teachers have long holidays, often these are taken up with planning new and improved lessons for their students or perhaps even going on a residential trip.

Now although teachers work hard, they would not change their careers.  This was illustrated by a funny conversation in the staff room today when I heard that teachers will have no sympathy with anyone who tells them how hard  work but will immediately feel for anyone who tells them that there job is boring.  With teaching, although it is hard work there is never a dull moment.   It is such a varied job and you rarely have a chance to sit still!

The school I have been at is widely regarded as challenging, yet the teachers really accomplish amazing things with the pupils and are able to reach even the most reluctant students.  I have seen some inspiring teachers at work and to do what they do day-in, day-out, year after year requires someone with pretty remarkable qualities.

So, I would like to take my hat off to teachers everywhere for the wonderful job they do.  Thank you and keep up the good work!

I went to the Cybermummy conference in London yesterday which was fab.   I met loads of fantastic mummy bloggers and learned a whole heap about writing.  As a result, I have decided to separate this blog from my other more commercial sites (familydaysoutuk.com and kids-london-guide.com).  This means things will be a bit chaotic around here for a while but it will soon be back to normal.