What would you do?

[*Ali*]

This is going to be a post of hypotheticals, but at the moment it is playing on my mind, so i I write it down I may be able to stop thinking about it.

I am a teacher and teach in the public system, I have yet to get my permanency in my job (that is a whole other thread) so at the end of each school year my job contract ends, and I may or may not be able to stay at the school I am teaching at that year, depending on there staffing requirements, and any permanent teachers trying to transfer in- also because I only work part time it depends if there are any teachers available to tandem teach with me. So basically each christmas I am left not knowing whether I will be employed for the next year or not, and whether I can stay at the same school or have to move on.

In June last year after I had been on Mat leave with my DS I started at a new school, I worked for the last 2 terms there last year tandeming with another teacher, and this year we have stayed on at the same school, continuing our tandem. Because the school is essentially a difficult to staff school in the Metro area, if I do 2 consequetive years of good service, I am eligable to get my permanency. Because of the change of govt etc I think the 2 years started from the start of this year and not back in June when I started last year.

Now to my dilema- DH and I are in negotiations over having #3, essentially I would like to start trying in Dec and hope to be due Sept- oct time, my reasoning for this is I am elligible for Mat leave of 14 weeks (paid)- but because I am a fixed term teacher if I am only due say 4 weeks before the end of my contract I only get 4 weeks paid leave- so I would like to take full benifit of the leave. But if we have a baby then, I won't have done my 2 years of service (providing I get posted back to the same school in 2010) and wont be eligible for my permanency. If we wait it out so that I can get my permenancy, we will have to wait till August next year before TTC so I can ensure that I get my paid leave, am employed up until I am ready to go on leave etc.

So I guess my thoughts are I don't know whether to have another baby when I want to- and realise there is plenty of time for my career (I have never been out of work yet), or whether to wait it out and get my permenancy but have a bigger age gap between my kids etc.

If you were in my situation what would you do?

(and if you made it to the end of my ramblings I thank you )

[Papillon]

In 10 years time, looking back - which would you regret more:

1. having a bigger age gap between your kids>?

2. having to wait a year or two more before getting the position your wanting in your career?

Good Luck

[Matryoshka]

I agree with Pap, just consider how much it means for you to have this age gap, as opposed to the potential uncertainty in your career. If you are not at risk of becoming unemployed (just uncertain about where you will work, and your job stability), then i would go ahead with the baby plans. I am not a fan of big age gaps, i tend to think that child would be the third wheel, iykwim?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I'd wait (and am waiting). It's not about a career, it's about stability. What if when you try to go back to work there is no work waiting? I couldn't risk having to lose my house just to have a few months less of an age gap. An age gap of under 4-5 years really isn't a problem gap at all - it's more about personalities with that small a gap between #2 and #3 IMO.