Dear Teacher’s Spouse,
It’s that time of year again. It’s “Back to School” season, and when I say “season,” I mean it. It takes months to prepare for, execute, and recover from Back to School. As the significant other to a teacher, you know just how all-consuming this time of year is. There are moments of excitement, stress, worry, and joy, and you get to have a front row seat and provide support to your favorite teacher. I can relate to the mix of emotions that you may be experiencing, as my husband has been a teacher for most of our marriage.
As you know, the planning for a new school year often happens during summer vacation when they are supposed to be relaxing and recovering from the previous year. There is much sacrifice from the whole family so that your teacher can be adequately prepared for the new year. Teachers are busy preparing lesson plans, decorating the classroom, coordinating with fellow teachers, and pouring over all of the ads for school supplies for their classrooms and purchasing them at the best price (with their own money.)
While your spouse is preparing for the start of another year, you may need to pitch in a little bit more to juggle childcare for planning meetings, Meet Your Teacher Night, and In-Service days. Dinner may be decided by which pizza restaurant can deliver to your neighborhood the quickest. You also may get to complete your own children’s school supply shopping lists so your spouse can concentrate on their own.
The smell of crayons and laminated name cards are taking over the dining room instead of home cooked dinners. You also may need to look the other way when the laundry starts to pile up. Better yet, you probably should just go ahead and fold the clothes and put them away.
The end of summer fun time brings your partner preparing for the many other kids that will begin to take up some of their hearts and minds. As the spouse to a dedicated teacher, you have a very important role to help anchor your home during such a busy, stressful, and exciting time. Since it is likely that you work outside of the home as well, you may be able to relate to having certain times during the year where you need a little more support from them. As the start of the school year gets in full swing, your life will attain that familiar rhythm from years past, but you might just get some food delivery and laundry services numbers handy.
Signed,
A fellow teacher’s spouse
Make sure you never miss out: subscribe to our weekly Wichita Moms Blog newsletter! Be the first to know about our exclusive events, special offers and discounts, neighborhood group activities and, of course, local resources
and parenting voices powered by local Wichita moms!
