Conflict again TTC#2, advice needed!!

izzybella

I met with my cooperating teacher today and she was telling me that her intern from last year hasn't found a job yet. Granted, she's looking in MA (where I think it's harder to find elementary ed work) but she said her intern might have to take a job as an aide. An aide with a MASTERS DEGREE. The job market here's pretty competitive too but I don't know how bad it is. I don't want to be in that place next year. If I'm going to have to take a year off (or work a year for minimal pay) I might as well be home with a baby. WWYD? Ideally I would work for a year but we could probably make it another year with me being out of work. I'm so conflicted, I don't want to feel like I wasted a year as an aide when I could be home with a baby. ARGH.

MilesOfSmiles

TTC is such a personal decision! I certainly wouldn't let one person's career situation determine my own personal decisions, but it's certainly something to think about. My own opinion on the matter is that if you don't TTC now, when WILL you be ready for baby #2?

izzybella

We were going to next summer because we don't want our kids too far apart (that would put them at a little over 3 years). I'm just nervous because UNH is supposed to have a great teacher placement program and if she doesn't have a job yet it makes me wonder if I will next summer, KWIM?

MrsA2Be

I don't know anything about this, but I guess I don't understan and that is part of my confusion.

Here's my question:  Isn't it better to get your degree and have that checked off and ready to go and if you were going to wait until next summer to TTC, then you could either get a job (if the market is good - plus, I am sure people will want to hire you b/c you are awesome) or you could TTC. 

Am I reading you wrong?

How's maddie?

mrs.magoo

Just because the job market is like this now, doesn't mean it will be this way next year...then again it could be worse....you can't predict the future, right? If you feel like you will be wasting a year as an aide, then if I were in your shoes, I would personally stay home and wait to get started as a teacher...

I've known many people w/master's who have had to take jobs that only require BA/BS degrees.... 

izzybella

My degree will be finished this year, so I would either be hugely pregnant or with a newborn strolling across the stage at graduation As long as I make it to April vacation I'm set.

It's so tough, I wish I could get a good idea of how the job market will be in a year.?

?

Maddie's doing well, her fever broke last night. YAY! Still waiting on a call from the pedi's office about her bloodwork.?

izzybella

Hee hee, thanks Kristin! If we waited to TTC next year (say, if I don't get a job) I would want to stay home with the baby for at least a year so I'd be out of work for at least 2 years. That's my conflict, we couldn't afford for me to be out for that long.?

MrsA2Be

Ah.  The dawn falls on Marblehead...

I am glad Maddie's fever broke.  Only you can make the decision about when is the best time - but pp is right - we never know what's going to happen.  Sometimes you have to go with your gut.  what does Adam think?

izzybella

He was ready to go ASAP! LOL I'm going to have a talk with him tonight, and hopefully my advisor will have gotten back to me as well with the placement rates for this year's grads.?

EastCoastFamily

I personally would never plan my children around my job if I wasn't in a permanent position. In this field, you never know what's going to happen and what's going to be available.  Things change all the time.  So if you want to have baby #2 now, go for it and go for the job after.  JMHO as a teacher.

CarsRUs

Professionally (IMPO) I think you would be better off having a baby first then getting a permanent job.  You want to take a year off right?  If you do then it's better not to be a first year teacher already asking for your second year off. If you don't (want a year off) then you could have a spring baby and still start a job next fall.  I think it looks better to take a year off after college to have a baby then to teach a year and then need maternity leave (and possibly need to take leave during that first year).  Plus you aren't guareented a job and it would stink to wait and then not get a job right away (not that I don't think you will but it can hard to plan that far out). GL!

izzybella

Thanks for all your advice. I don't know why we can't just make a freaking decision!! LOL