When I went back to employed work about six years ago as a teacher, I was nervous.
Most of my fellow teachers in the staff-room were my children’s ages, making me feel like some nearly extinct dinosaur.
But it didn’t take me long to realize that I had plenty of advantages over them.
I’m never in a mad rush to get out as soon as the bell rings, as there’s no teacher or babysitter waiting for me to pick up my starving children.
I don’t have to take time off for my children’s illnesses.
I’m not as exhausted as the young mothers ( and fathers) who never get an uninterrupted night’s sleep.
I’m pretty calm and have more self-confidence than many of those inexperienced youngsters and don’t get upset over criticism.
Outraged parents and badly behaved pupils don’t faze me. (After bringing up 7 children nothing much fazes me. )
Yes, maturity carries with it many advantages.
Most of the major expenses of life have been paid for (mortgage, children’s education, most weddings etc) so I can allow myself to be employed part-time and devote more time to writing.
And as for the writing – well, as the years go by, I have far more to write about.
Essay subjects abound. If it happened, there’s an essay in it somewhere.
I have enough material on parenting (kept up to date by my grandchildren) to fill most magazines and websites for a long time.
I can now write for most age markets ( grandchildren keep me up to date with teen-speak / fads/fashions / technical gadgets which are foreign animals to me).
I’ve always loved writing. I never said “ I’ll write when …….. I have more time/ the children sleep through the night / the kids are grown / I retire …etc
I’ve been writing regularly, even if not frequently, since I was about 15 and now that I have more time, those overflowing idea notebooks are coming into use.
So as I head towards my 60s I’m looking forward, G’d willing, to a busy writing and family life.
And you won’t find me at the cosmetic counter looking at those outrageously expensive “promise- to- make –you- look- ten-years-younger- in -ten –weeks lotions.
I’m comfortable in my (wrinkled) skin the way it is.
3 comments:
I do admire you for sticking with the teaching. I find it far too stressful in both the classroom and the staffroom. There's certainly more pressure on teachers now than when I first qualified. Maybe it's a UK issue but young teachers here no longer have those mature members of staff who were always around to give me advice.
But I'm with you all the way re the wrinkles. Let's grow old graciously. Anyway, they're not really wrinkles. They're laughter lines ;-)
Urgh...another forty years before I can retire! ):
It sounds so good!
Ros, I’d like to say that I’m the “mature member of staff” that people can go to for advice, but the truth is that the classroom has changed beyond recognition and I have little advice to give.
Adam, enjoy the next 40 years – I’m sure they’ll be great.
Post a Comment