Untenured TTC??

Question

I am going to be 30 and have been married 5 years. My husband and I always wanted for me to be tenured before we started a family, but teaching jobs in my area are very hard to get. For the past few years, I have done leave replacements and had a part time position last year. I recently landed my dream probationary position that started this past September. This is my first tenure track year and won’t be tenured for another 4. Do I continue to wait or is it possible to get pregnant for next year and have the baby in the spring (second year)? I have no idea who to ask and I’m not sure what to do. I’m also working myself to the bone this year and I’m on every committee, club, event at the school and already did over 78 pd hours this year. How do I make my decision? Was anyone else untenured?

Answer

This is strictly my personal opinion due to personal experience. I was misdiagnosed with PCOS for years but after birth control and strict dieting they realized that my levels were all normal but I was having terrible pain after I went off my BC. Turns out I have Endo and it’s everywhere. The BC was just masking it so I thought I was healthy and I’d work on my career first as a teacher. We started TTC when I was 27 and we really struggled. The doctors were considering a hysterectomy for me because it was so bad. My view from my experience is I have my whole life to build my career and can do it based on hard work. Sometimes, biology gets in the way of becoming a parent. It’s for this reason I no longer base our family planning around my work. You have to do what is best for you.

Answer

I was, and it was my first year! Are you in a union?

Answer

Is tenured a permanent position?  I'm currently substitute teaching and like you have had many terms over the last few years. But nothing permanent (as in guaranteed to have a job for the foreseeable future). We aren't waiting for me to get permanent but, we also weren't going to be looking for childcare (I would be staying home) so our situations could be different.

Answer

Not in academia myself, but as I understand it, there is a lot of pressure to publish and also do all your class loads, etc. and balancing a child in that is challenging because you’re still working and researching and writing all the time. People do it. But also might be helpful to wait at least a couple years and then reevaluate. You could also get your ovarian reserve tested if that would help give you peace of mind. In my book, 30 is still quite young.

Untenured TTC??

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