What do 'I' want to be when my children grow up...

[Jann in TX]

DH and I are pretty much financially 'healthy' but still I am THE college fund :D

I've been substituting at the local high school the past few weeks--and LOVING it. It has been 9 years since I was in a classroom.

I have taught all levels--elementary, Jr High and High school. I have current elementary and Jr. High certification (Math and Science) but I've let my High school certification slip--I would need to take another test to get that up to date...

Now local districts are beginning to post openings for next fall... I'm feeling the pull to go back to work full time. Oldest dd (the one homeschooled) will be attending the local community college and working during the day (dual enrollment). Middle and youngest dd's attend PS--will be in 1st and 10th next year.

I know I want to be a 'teacher' again--but what do I want to teach--and what level? I can pretty much rule out elementary--I loved homeschooling these ages--but I do not think I could tolerate the demands/constraints that state testing has put upon teachers in these levels. I guess I still have some more thinking and LOTS of praying to do.

Does anyone else know what they would like to do when their children grow up--other than loving on grandchildren and spoiling them rotten?

[Beth in Central TX]

I think I might like to open a bookstore or teach Latin. If I taught Latin, I would probably be a private tutor, but I might teach at a local private school. I've even thought about going back and getting a degree in Classics (BA in Latin)...

[dangermom]

I'm a librarian, and I'd like to go back to working at a library. Preferably the children's room! Also I plan to sew a lot more.

[Diana in OR]

I'm thinking about doing what you're doing. I don't want to work full-time, as I will probably be giving 20 +/- hours a week to City Council next year. However, I'd like to substitute maybe 1 or 2 days a week, and see if I'd like to go back to classroom teaching, and if so, what grades.

I've mostly taught K-2, but had been certified to teach Language Arts/English through high school.

I also want to be involved with Government at some level. After City Council, I think I'd like to run for the State Legislature, or possibly even Congress.

Keep the answers coming! I love hearing what everyone else is doing/plans to do.:001_smile:

[Janet in WA]

Well, my children are grown up, and I'd like to be a grandmother. So far, no luck.

[PrairieAir]

I wish I knew. I have thought a lot about this in the past few years. It bothers me that I don't know. I feel so lost.

At one time I thought I would like to teach. Well, I guess I've done that. I'm afraid I often don't have the same enthusiasm for teaching my own children as I do for teaching other people's. I loved being a Girl Scout leader, being a merit badge counselor, helping with Young Marines, teaching at co-op. I could go to school at WSU for free in exchange for working 3 years in the Wichita school system. I don't think I want to work in that system or any other, though. I dread grading unless it is a worksheet or something with absolute right and wrong. I don't like using lesson plans and doing things in conventional ways. I am afraid of where I might have to teach. Would I be in a classroom with kids who are out of control and refuse to learn? Would I be stuck with rigid administrators who could make my life miserable? And what about all the drive time? I am almost 37. I don't want to spend 4 years getting a degree and another 3 in a job I hate to possibly get a job I love someday. I can see myself teaching in our small town. I can see working with kids in some other type of program. But what would I have to go through to get the job I'd like?

There are other careers I've considered. I think dh is bothered that I have not stuck with learning the stock market, but that is just so far from my natural bent and now does not seem to be the best timing for it. I've considered working as a rural mail carrier, some type of social work (degree required for many of those positions), and school secretary or other non-certified position at the local school (substitute custodian and substitute food service are open now).

Our library had an opening for part time librarian, no degree required, and I thought it might be a good opportunity for me. When I mentioned it to dh, he just brought up the stock market again and asked how much I'd make working at the library. It wasn't much, but the hours were a good fit, and it would have been more than what I make sitting at home.

I am so frustrated and discouraged. Dh is very understanding and supportive and has said that ultimately he wants me to do whatever makes me happy. If I only knew what that is! Then perhaps I could sit down and talk it all over with him and come up with a plan, but as it is I just get more discouraged when I try to talk about it.

There is so much more I want to say, but that's all I can manage for now.:sad: I think I need to go clean some more.

[WTMCassandra]

I've always dreamed of owning my own bookstore--half new Christian books and half homeschooling new and consignment. I don't know if I'll ever do it because I would hate the business part. I'm only interested in the book part ; ).

[Soph the vet]

I want to split my time between teaching anatomy at a local college (so my kids can get reduced tuition:confused:), rocking at risk babies at the hospital (I have a friend who does this, FAS and crack babies), and being a drummer for Jars of Clay - which will never happen as I know nothing about playing the drums, I just love their music:lol:!

[asher]

Some days I want to back to social work. I would love to do homestudies and adoption post placement reports. But then some days, I'd like to open up a little store selling different papers. If I'm really ambitious, I think I'd like to become a midwife. It's all up in the air. :D

[mcconnellboys]

I'd love to have a bookstore for homeschoolers and others,

Regena

[iquilt]

My dh is always teasing me that I'll own my own quilt shop, so that's been in my dreams for awhile now. I am a teacher but I don't think I'll go back to that (not in a class with 25 kids anyway :) ). I like to remember that before I know it I'll miss these days of children at home learning together and not to worry too much about the future.

[WTMindy]

Like you, I love teaching! I am energized by being around highschoolers. I am blessed to work right now for our district's homeschool co-op and I get to work with a great group of teens two days a week. I can see myself doing this after my kids are gone. But, I love the half-time thing. I can still get my "fix" and have time for being a grandma too (assuming that is in the cards some day!)

[Jenny in Atl]

Something to do with music, art, drama, travel, and learning. I think that leaves me with some room to explore.

[SheilaZ]

I used to be a teacher but I don't think I want to deal with the future classes once my kids grow up.

I plan on returning to school and becoming a pharmacist OR....more likely I'll become an speech or occupational therapist. I have enough personal experience on that one and I don't see the rate of autism diagnosis tapering off.

[CookieMonster]

Since reading Eats, Shoots & Leaves I have been wondering if I haven't missed my calling as a copy editor. Seriously.

Growing up, I never even knew that was an option. Who has a copy editor in their list of community helpers? But, I think I might be able to dig that.

I just don't know if I'll have the stamina to teach full time when I'm old enough to be graduating my kids. And I think dh is really keen on eating, sleeping, and fishing once we retire. I might just fall into that with him.

[Karen in CO]

:D Really. My actual plan involves a sailboat and a barrel of rum. Can you really still buy such a thing? My hubby can't swim and has for years sworn that I plan to drown him, but I have given him fair warning. Sailboat baby!

I MUST down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking. I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life. To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
Sea-Fever
John Masefield

[Mama Lynx]

I think I might like to open a bookstore or teach Latin. If I taught Latin, I would probably be a private tutor, but I might teach at a local private school. I've even thought about going back and getting a degree in Classics (BA in Latin)...

Me too! I've been researching programs in different areas. I would love to offer private classes, or work at a private or cottage school. Mainly, I just want to go back to school to study classics, Latin and Greek.

[Plaid Dad]

Me three! I've seriously considered applying to our local state university's M.A. program for classics. It focuses on Latin pedagogy and would also lead to state credentialing. That last part is actually what's kept me away for this long; I have no intentions of teaching in a public school, so the credentialing process would be a huge waste of time and money.

Other than that, I'm looking forward to being a lounging figurehead. :biggrinjester:

[elegantlion]

I'm going to write books while dh and I travel in an RV. I'm working on honing my skills now while ds is still at home. I'm working on a year long writing contest and have rough drafts for 2 books almost done.

My MIL wrote textbooks in her career and after she retired she started writing murder mystery novels. She has three published so far, she is my inspiration.

If that all falls through, I'm going to be a pirate like Karen.

[LisaNY]

I think I might like to open a bookstore or teach Latin. If I taught Latin, I would probably be a private tutor, but I might teach at a local private school. I've even thought about going back and getting a degree in Classics (BA in Latin)...

I would like to teach Latin someday as well. :001_smile:

[LisaNY]

Well, my children are grown up, and I'd like to be a grandmother. So far, no luck.

Yes! I always say that I hope I live to see grandchildren. To me, that's the ultimate blessing for a parent. :001_smile: