Teacher Bees - Humor Me While I Vent ...

By Katrocap Oct 9, 2013

I am so overwhelmed being back at school. Because of DS's daycare and sharing a car with my husband I get to school exactly when I am supposed to (5 minutes before students arrive) and have to leave the moment I can (10 minutes after dismissal). I have 30 minutes planning in the morning that is spent pumping and 30 in the afternoon - also pumping. That leaves me my 20 minute lunch to do anything and everything that I need to (copying, laminating, bulletin boards, cleaning, organizing). My room is a mess and I am so stressed out. I love my job but truly can only give the bare minimum required right now.

Teacher bees who have made it through pumping, please tell me it gets better! Teacher bees who are in the same boat, feel free to commiserate! Sorry for the vent, I am just exhausted ...

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11 comments

travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Oct 9, 2013

I am a teacher too and I'm exhausted but I'm not quite as crunched for time as you. I get there last minute and lease ASAP too but our contract requires us to be there until 345 even though dismissal is at 3 do I get lots done then. Do you work while you pump? I don't know how you do it!!
DillonLion
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts

Oct 9, 2013

Not a teacher - but I struggle at my job as well. Pumping throughout the day really puts a damper on my productivity. It is SO HARD.
plantains
grapefruit / 4671 posts

Oct 9, 2013

I'm nit a teacher but pumping was o hard and impossible. Everything got a million times easier once I was done pumping.
Katrocap
persimmon / 1230 posts

Oct 9, 2013

@plaintains: Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to hear.
Mrs Green Grass
pomelo / 5628 posts

Oct 9, 2013

I went back for the last 6 weeks last year and was a zombie! This year is much, much better. Not having to pump is beyond key! I can't be productive while pumping. No way.
JoyfulKiwi
nectarine / 2667 posts

Oct 9, 2013

Whoa, that *is* a time crunch! Those "lost" minutes add up to a lot of stress. When I got back into the classroom, I was pumping 3x a day in my room (20 min each) & felt like I never got enough done. I tried to work while I pumped, but it made me too stressed and decreased my output.

I ended up having to let the "I'm doing a poor job" feelings go. I started heavy prioritizing/organizing (this website: http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2012/10/how-to-work-a-40-hour-week-as-a-teacher.html was helpful, especially #4). After a while, I'd do anything that I could do sitting down or at my computer while pumping. I started having my students do a lot more work that I didn't have to prep/copy/create before hand. I delegated so much more to the kids (any cleaning chore I was doing after school became their job).

Honestly, I also put in some evening & weekend hours (husband and baby tagged along for funsies) which I usually avoid like the plague. I'll say though that I'm in my last week of pumping at work and I am getting So Much Done now that I have that time back. The things I picked up because of pumping are great habits and keep me from dragging a million things home!
lemondrop
bananas / 9118 posts

Oct 10, 2013

Ugh, yes- I've so been there! Basically I couldn't handle everything, so I had to prioritize and rearrange my new normal from my old high standards.

I cut some of my pumping time down (15-20 min max) and added a smaller session (10-15 minutes) while I ate lunch. No way could I work and pump at the same time, because my production went to shit, I had to sit, read, surf, snack, or look at photos of my little guy.

I've been back a year and a half, and still don't feel like I'm giving my students 100% (more like 75%) and I just accept that, I need sanity. I do a lot of night time prep and grading at home so I feel more on top of things for those whirlwind days at work. I have a packet of papers printed to take to work and throw on the copier instead of printing at work and forgetting things.

@JoyfulKiwi: great suggestions! I'll definitely be looking more into them!
T.H.O.U.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts

Oct 10, 2013

Do you have a hands free pumping bra that you could use to get some work done while you are pumping? Even if its reading papers or organizing your desk or wiping something off with a clorox wipe you might feel better getting one or two things done.
JoyfulKiwi
nectarine / 2667 posts

Oct 10, 2013

@lemondrop: also, ou school utilizes the Daily 5 structure and that is the KEY to teachers doing less prep. If you haven't already, look into ways to incorporate that!
Katrocap
persimmon / 1230 posts

Oct 19, 2013

I've been too busy to even return to my thread! Thanks for the replies, though.

@t.h.o.u.: I use a manual pump, which may contribute to the problem. I got a free double electric pump via insurance but it felt weird being hooked up to a machine and it was junk anyway.

@joyfulkiwi: Thanks. I'll check out the link.

@plaintains: Thank you! I look forward to life getting a million times easier after pumping

@travellingbee: Glad to hear I'm not the only one who only works contracted hours! Many teachers at my school seem to be in a competition for who gets there earliest and who leaves latest. And no, I don't work while pumping. My school laptop filters almost every popular site ... except Netflix!

@lemondrop: I think it comes down to accepting that things are different now, and that I need my sanity.

@mrs green grass: Glad to hear things are so much better for you this year! Sometimes I feel like a zombie, too.

@dillonlion: Pumping is hard no matter what job you have. Even though I complain about it, I realize I'm lucky to have a private, clean and locked space and time to pump there.
MsMamaBear
pear / 1861 posts

Oct 19, 2013

I am the same way, but without pumping and with a 2yr old. LOL! I just get bogged down with lesson plans and ALL the extra stuff we have to do. I try to come in early in the mornings because no one is there and I can get in more work. Sometimes I stay up late getting stuff done so I'm not taking time away from my LO.

@JoyfulKiwi: The self running classroom tip is REALLY good! I have Pre-K kids, but they still do a lot for themselves and it makes a difference in the day.

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