Thinking about professional development..what would you do?

[newmommy]

Hi ladies!

I'm a Moderate Special Needs teacher, and I have my masters degree in Special Education. Recently DH and I have decided that we'd like another child. Currently I teach 15 hours a week, once we have two children, our current situation wouldn't work. So I've been looking into a language training program, which would allow for a more flexible work schedule in the future.

Here is my dilemma: the program starts in June 07 through May08....however we'd like to TTC this spring, and possibly have a baby in late winter/early spring 08-which may conflict with potential graduation.

I'm not sure what to do....planning a child is such an unknown, and I feel that I should enroll in the program, and deal with the consequences later....is that irresponsible?

I'm such a planning freak, but I realize that life doesn't always go according to plan, and I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to have such great training under my belt as a teacher.....

what would you do?

TIA!

[thedoorchick]

As someone who has been TTC for four years (yes, you read that right), I would absolutely not plan around when a baby *might* be born. Do what you need to do, if you get pg, then deal accordingly.

[newmommy]

Thanks : )

[j*east]

Hoe old are you? How easy of a time did you have getting PG the first time? How likely is it that you could do this program with two kids?

If you feel comfortable with waiting a while to TTC, I'd say do it. Then you can start trying in fall 07 and at the earliest have a baby in summer 08, after you graduated from the program. That would only put you a few months off your TTC schedule, and you can never tell how long it'll take anyway, but that way you'll have your degree. :) (If it is a degree program?) Good luck!

[maggieb]

I was pg twice and had those two babies right in the middle of a doctoral program and it was fine. I ended up going back to fall classes when DD#1 was 5 weeks old, but it was fine. I just talked to the professors at the beginning of the class about needing a time to pump and all of them were great! I even ended up having a 'pumping buddy', another classmate who had just given birth too, and we became really good friends. I say go for it!