Navigating Teaching While Parenting

My mom was an amazing mother and teacher, and until I became a mother and teacher myself, I had no idea how exhausted she must have been. She guided a classroom full of students by day and supported her own children at home by night, and often, she had to attend to both those roles simultaneously. I remember her grading papers at my brother’s baseball games or writing lesson plans while waiting to pick me up from dance class. And like all kids, my brother and I occasionally got sick, which required her to spend countless hours on sub plans. If you have answered the dual calls of parenting and teaching, I know you can relate. Read on for some strategies to help you thrive in that crazy combo of teacher and parent.

Separate

If you feel guilty about not being present for your children when you’re focused on work and guilty about not serving your students when you’re focused on your family, you’re not alone. That guilt is part of the hidden price we pay for caring so deeply in both spaces, but clear boundaries can help. Set a hard stop for schoolwork in the evenings. If 7:00 is family time, honor it. You might not get through the entire pile of essays tonight, and that’s okay. Your own child’s bedtime story matters, too.

Even with clear boundaries, sometimes our two worlds still collide. Parent-teacher conferences? Great, unless they’re the same night as your own child’s piano recital. School holiday? Perfect, except your district’s calendar doesn’t match your child’s. Sick kid at home? Now you’re scrambling to write sub plans at 6:00 a.m. while trying to get a pediatrician appointment. The truth is, we can’t always separate our work and family lives. In those times, accept the reality, make a choice based on your priorities, and let go of the guilt.

Anticipate

Teachers who are also parents often experience what’s known as decision fatigue, mental exhaustion caused by the sheer volume of decisions we make each day. At school, we’re constantly choosing how to respond to student behaviors, adjust lesson plans on the fly, handle unexpected interruptions, and manage time effectively. By the time we get home, even simple decisions like what’s for dinner can feel overwhelming. To minimize this stress, it’s helpful to reduce the number of home decisions by creating routines and systems in advance. Meal planning, consistent bedtime schedules, and shared family responsibilities can help take the guesswork out of daily tasks and preserve mental energy.

Another powerful strategy is to simplify choices and involve family members in decision-making ahead of time. For instance, rotating dinner menus or having pre-set activity nights (like Taco Tuesday or Friday Game Night) turn daily choices into predictable patterns. Routines are comforting when we’re feeling overwhelmed, and routines are also good for kids. Whenever possible, anticipate decisions ahead of time and plan in advance. Your Tuesday night self will be so grateful for your proactive Sunday afternoon self.

Collaborate

When it feels right, include your kids in the work. Let your children help you decorate your classroom or test out a science demo at home. One teacher I know has her 9-year-old "edit" worksheets for typos, making her feel like a junior teacher. It creates connection and reminds your family that your work is challenging and meaningful.

By having open conversations with spouses, partners, or older children about schedules, responsibilities, and emotional needs, we can share tasks such as meal prep, laundry, or helping younger children with homework. Creating a shared calendar or weekly family check-ins can also ensure that everyone is aware of one another’s commitments and can offer support when needed. When family members feel involved and appreciated, they are often more willing to step in and help.

Celebrate

Sure, being both a teacher and a parent is hard—but it’s also powerful. We beat ourselves up when we can’t attend a child’s performance during the school day or when we can’t attend a school function in the evening. It’s easy to forget that being a parent can make us better teachers, and being a teacher can benefit our own children.

Being a parent can make it easier to relate to your students’ parents, and knowing what it’s like makes it easier to cultivate compassion. Being a parent can also help you understand what your students (and there parents) need most from you. As a teacher, you also better understand what your child’s teacher is going through. And you understand your own child’s development and academic growth better. You bring your insights as a parent into your classroom and your compassion as a teacher into your home. That dual perspective is a gift.

You’re Doing Better Than You Think

Your juggling act may not always feel graceful, but your commitment is evident. Remember, you can’t be everything to everyone all the time. Show up, give yourself grace, and make space for joy in the small moments. You’re not just nurturing students and raising children—you’re impacting multiple lives. And you’re doing it with intention, care, and resilience. So take a deep breath. Give yourself some grace. And take that extra five minutes alone in the bathroom. You’ve earned it.

Get our best Teacher Recharge tools delivered right to your mailbox each week. Sign up today.