The Truth About Returning to Teaching after Maternity Leave

This year, I returned to my elementary music teaching position after my maternity leave. I live in Canada, so I am fortunate that I got a year off at home with my girlie, but it didn’t come without some good and some not-so-good surprises when I returned to work after a year off. 

So, here I am sharing my truth about returning after maternity leave to my full-time elementary music teaching job- between two schools!

Not all was bad!
First off, I want to share that going back to work was not completely awful. Yes, I did miss hanging out with my kid every day and getting to watch her grow, but I was READY to go back to work. I have come to realize that I am the type of person that thrives on structure, routine, and adult conversations and returning to work checks all of those boxes for me. I was also ready to be rechallenged- not that parenting isn’t challenging- but I was ready for the fast-paced challenge that came with teaching elementary music. If you know, you know! 

Let’s start with some good news. Here are the pleasant surprises from my return to work.

1. I felt revitalized. I was lucky enough to get my teaching job before I even finished university, and the summer before I officially started teaching, I taught summer school. Which was great, but from the time I finished university to the time I started teaching, I might have had 2 weeks off. The summer after my first few years, I was planning a wedding and still teaching summer school. So, before my maternity leave, I never really had a chance to rest, relax, and think about what my big goals for my music program were. I was often teaching day to day or week to week. Having a year off (with a very content baby) gave me time to think, dream, and plan for my music program. That led me to come back to work excited and full of fresh ideas!  

2. I wasn’t starting from scratch. While I was coming back with these new ideas and plans for my program, I wasn’t starting from scratch. I knew what Hello Songs I liked to do. I had tried and true lessons and games that my students like. I had centres prepared. I had a report card comment bank ready. I knew how to write sub-plans. There was overall less starting from scratch than there was when I was a brand-new teacher. I felt that I knew what needed to be done and had a clue on how to get those things done!

3. My students still had an appreciation and foundational music skills. This may come as a surprise to some, but if you’re from a small town, probably not. I did not have a music specialist take over my mat leaves; in fact, I am not even sure that they could play instruments. BUT they did a FANTASTIC job of helping create and keep a love and appreciation for music in my students, which is all I could really ask for. I didn’t have to prove to my students that music was fun; there were no complaints about coming to music, and they maintained their music skills. Really, I couldn’t ask for a better situation

Things Expected with my return to work. But even though these were expected, they weren't easy. 
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All right, the following few things were things I expected to happen when I returned to work. Unfortunately, they are neither super positive nor do I have fantastic solutions to make them easier, which I was also prepared for. But I hope that by sharing them, another mom out there will know that what she's going through is normal and that she’s not alone!

1. Juggling the balls is not for the faint of heart. Starting out with a biggie and the hardest adjustment with my return to work. Juggling the balls that are mom life, school life, and wife life. And let’s be honest, I am not good at juggling all three at once. One of the balls is almost dropping ALL. THE. TIME. 

• I have not found a good solution, but here’s my management strategy. What is the bare minimum that needs to be done for each ball not to drop? 
• Here’s my example - the bare minimum at school each day is that my lessons need to be prepared for the next day, and that assessments need to be marked and added to the grade book within the week they were taken. Or at home, the bare minimum each night is that the dishwasher gets loaded and put on, the toys get picked up, and my lunch is made for the next day. Anything extra is a bonus. I often have to remind myself that some balls are made of glass while others are made of rubber. 

2. A sick kid and the sub plans that go with it. If you’re in a similar situation to mine, your kid is likely in daycare, and with that come the daycare germs and colds. Add that to the germs I bring home from school; it seems like every month, someone is home sick with something. Which, as a teacher, means writing sub plans. Which are a pain. But I have two tips to make things a little easier. 

• Have a template ready to go. I have a template ready to go with basic school routines, rules, and the outline of my classes for the day. For each class, I leave the names of those who would be helpful leaders. When you have the framework, you just need to add the activities.
• Choosing the activities is the hardest part. To make it a little easier on you, I have an entire guide to sub plans resource that you can download HERE! I tend to lean into activities that students have done before, such as composition activities, colour-by-note, or music centers. But keep it simple for yourself and your substitute!​​

3. You’ll likely feel guilty and while it sucks it’s normal. If you’re a dedicated, passionate person, you will likely feel guilty that you aren’t doing more. In the past year, MANY TIMES I have felt guilty that I am not doing more at school, and felt guilty that I am not doing more at home. It’s hard, and my best advice is to find yourself and build yourself a support system that lifts you and supports you! 

Well, I hope this gives you some insight into what your life might be like when you return to work after your maternity leave. Have fun and make the best of it! 

Enjoy! 
Jayna