u/Far-Iron4585

I worked in ECE for 10 years before taking time off to stay home with my child, who is now just over one.

In my role, I gave a lot. I was team lead for two programs, helped expand our center, mentored new staff and practicum students, and often became the main point of contact for families needing support or navigating concerns. I cared deeply about the children and families I worked with, and like many educators, I carried far more than what was technically in my job description.

After becoming a mother myself, everything shifted.

Postpartum hit me harder than I expected. My brain felt like mush for a while. All I could focus on keeping my baby cared for, managing our household, and getting through the day. Around the same time, my husband started primarily working nights, which meant I became the primary parent most evenings and mornings as well. Dinner, bath, bedtime, wakeups, appointments, meals, mental load — it all landed heavily on me.

Eventually, I made the decision not to return to ECE and instead to be a stay at home Mom to my baby.

Not because I stopped loving the field. Not because I wasn’t capable. But because I knew how much this work requires emotionally, mentally, and physically. I didn’t feel I could show up as the educator children and families deserve while also trying to stay present and regulated for my own child under the circumstances I was in.

And honestly? Sometimes I still wonder if I made the right choice.

I think many educators reach a point where they realize how much of themselves they’ve been pouring out for years. ECE asks for enormous emotional labour, often far beyond what is acknowledged or compensated. Many of us become leaders, counselors, mediators, trainers, and support systems all at once.

I’m sharing this because I know I can’t be the only one who has wrestled with this transition or questioned their capacity after becoming a parent.

I am sorry but Mothers day is for MOMS.

I hate that in the name of being an inclusive society we are making Mother's day about everyone else.

Yes we can acknowledge this day is hard for lots of people for different reasons.

Today my feed has been flooded with posts all about how extended families should be included, reminders about how hard today is for loss Moms ect. And yes, those people all deserve acknowledgement.

But I think we have lost the plot - today is for celebration of Motherhood. However that looks in your family.

Byeeeee off to touch grass.

Share your birth insight with me

I had a really hard birth, and I'm really looking for some insight if I agreed to something that ended up costing me the experience I wanted. Please share your thoughts. Especially would love to hear from people in the medical field.

Going into pregnancy, I had a few known factors: my baby was measuring large (around the 90th percentile), and my pre-pregnancy BMI was around 40. I didn’t have other major health issues, aside from a slightly off thyroid early in pregnancy that I managed with medication.

I originally really wanted a home birth. But as my pregnancy progressed, I was encouraged to have a 39-week induction due to risk factors like potential preeclampsia and baby’s size. After thinking it through, I agreed. My main priority became safety, even though part of me was still grieving not having the home birth experience I had imagined. My goal throughout was to avoid a C-section if possible.

In the weeks leading up to induction, I tried everything I reasonably could to encourage labour naturally: acupuncture, chiropractor, RMT, red raspberry leaf tea, dates, pineapple, curb walking, long walks and hikes, and lots of time on the exercise ball, multiple membrane sweeps.

Induction process:

About a week before my due date, I went in for a cervical balloon induction. That immediately triggered strong back labour contractions. The balloon eventually fell out on its own about 14 hours later. I was told to come back for pitocin.

However, the hospital was extremely busy and I couldn’t be admitted right away. Over the next week, I stayed in early labour with irregular contractions (prodromal labour). I was in constant contact with the hospital, being told each day I’d likely be called in “within a couple hours,” but it kept getting delayed. They did, however bring me in at one time to do a membrane sweep

Then, on my due date, I was finally called in—but to a different hospital in another city for the next stage of induction. We made the two-hour drive and when I arrived I was about 2 cm dilated. I really didn't want to have my water broken by the doctor, but he insisted that it would be helpful to get my labor for granting. Against my better wishes, I agreed to it

Active labour:

I spent about 16 hours on max-dose pitocin. I had hoped to stay unmedicated for as long as possible, so I laboured in the tub, used different positions, and tried to stay moving. But it was almost entirely back labour, and despite everything, I only progressed to 4 cm.

During this time, my baby had multiple heart rate decelerations that were concerning. Eventually, I chose to get an epidural because I was exhausted and the situation felt increasingly stressful.

I was able to sleep after that, but while I was resting, they ended up turning off the pitocin because baby was still not tolerating it well.

After another \~8 hours of rest and monitoring, the OB gently suggested a C-section. I asked directly whether continuing to labour posed a risk to the baby, and he said yes, and that it was his medical recommendation to proceed with a C-section.

So we did.

Afterwards, I was told baby was in a posterior (“sunny side up”) position, weighed 9 lbs, and had a head measuring in the 95th percentile.

Aftermath:

Physically, I recovered okay. Emotionally… it’s been more complicated.

I didn’t feel traumatized in the moment, but months later I’ve found myself feeling a lot of grief and guilt. Wondering if I gave up too easily. If I should have tried longer. If I “failed” at the birth I wanted.

Logically I know I wanted to prioritize safety above all else—but emotionally I still feel sad that I didn’t get the experience I hoped for.

I had a really hard birth, and I'm really looking for some insight if I agreed to something that ended up costing me the experience I wanted. Please share your thoughts. Especially would love to hear from people in the medical field.

Going into pregnancy, I had a few known factors: my baby was measuring large (around the 90th percentile), and my pre-pregnancy BMI was around 40. I didn’t have other major health issues, aside from a slightly off thyroid early in pregnancy that I managed with medication.

I originally really wanted a home birth. But as my pregnancy progressed, I was encouraged to have a 39-week induction due to risk factors like potential preeclampsia and baby’s size. After thinking it through, I agreed. My main priority became safety, even though part of me was still grieving not having the home birth experience I had imagined. My goal throughout was to avoid a C-section if possible.

In the weeks leading up to induction, I tried everything I reasonably could to encourage labour naturally: acupuncture, chiropractor, RMT, red raspberry leaf tea, dates, pineapple, curb walking, long walks and hikes, and lots of time on the exercise ball, multiple membrane sweeps.

Induction process:

About a week before my due date, I went in for a cervical balloon induction. That immediately triggered strong back labour contractions. The balloon eventually fell out on its own about 14 hours later. I was told to come back for pitocin.

However, the hospital was extremely busy and I couldn’t be admitted right away. Over the next week, I stayed in early labour with irregular contractions (prodromal labour). I was in constant contact with the hospital, being told each day I’d likely be called in “within a couple hours,” but it kept getting delayed. They did, however bring me in at one time to do a membrane sweep

Then, on my due date, I was finally called in—but to a different hospital in another city for the next stage of induction. We made the two-hour drive and when I arrived I was about 2 cm dilated. I really didn't want to have my water broken by the doctor, but he insisted that it would be helpful to get my labor for granting. Against my better wishes, I agreed to it

Active labour:

I spent about 16 hours on max-dose pitocin. I had hoped to stay unmedicated for as long as possible, so I laboured in the tub, used different positions, and tried to stay moving. But it was almost entirely back labour, and despite everything, I only progressed to 4 cm.

During this time, my baby had multiple heart rate decelerations that were concerning. Eventually, I chose to get an epidural because I was exhausted and the situation felt increasingly stressful.

I was able to sleep after that, but while I was resting, they ended up turning off the pitocin because baby was still not tolerating it well.

After another ~8 hours of rest and monitoring, the OB gently suggested a C-section. I asked directly whether continuing to labour posed a risk to the baby, and he said yes, and that it was his medical recommendation to proceed with a C-section.

So we did.

Afterwards, I was told baby was in a posterior (“sunny side up”) position, weighed 9 lbs, and had a head measuring in the 95th percentile.

Aftermath:

Physically, I recovered okay. Emotionally… it’s been more complicated.

I didn’t feel traumatized in the moment, but months later I’ve found myself feeling a lot of grief and guilt. Wondering if I gave up too easily. If I should have tried longer. If I “failed” at the birth I wanted.

Logically I know I wanted to prioritize safety above all else—but emotionally I still feel sad that I didn’t get the experience I hoped for.

I’m interested in applying to be an on-call EA with SD62 and would love to hear from anyone who has experience in this role.

I’m coming from an ECE (childcare) background and had a few questions:

Is an ECE background generally considered an asset, or does it not make much of a difference in the hiring process?

My ECE license may have expired — would I need to renew it, or is having my Early Learning and Care diploma enough?

I’ve heard that on-call EAs can select a few preferred schools to work at — is that true? Are there any limitations around that?

Are there any courses or certifications you’d recommend taking beforehand to be a stronger candidate?

And of course, if there’s anything else you think would be helpful to know about the role, I’d really appreciate it!

Thanks so much 😊

I’m interested in applying to be an on-call EA with SD62 and would love to hear from anyone who has experience in this role.

I’m coming from an ECE (childcare) background and had a few questions:

Is an ECE background generally considered an asset, or does it not make much of a difference in the hiring process?

My ECE license may have expired — would I need to renew it, or is having my Early Learning and Care diploma enough?

I’ve heard that on-call EAs can select a few preferred schools to work at — is that true? Are there any limitations around that?

Are there any courses or certifications you’d recommend taking beforehand to be a stronger candidate?

And of course, if there’s anything else you think would be helpful to know about the role, I’d really appreciate it!

Thanks so much 😊