Challenges vs. Rewards of Being an Educator and Parenting as a Teacher

#22. (BONUS EPISODE) Mom and Pop, or Margaret and Michael Wilson met at Michigan State University. Margaret was studying Geography and Michael studied Mathematics. Both ended up getting their teaching certificates after college to turn their favorite subjects into a marketable skill that could translate to a career in education. 

My dad spent his first three years of teaching in Oahu, Hawaii, while my mom worked as a city planner there. After moving back to Traverse City, Michigan, my dad’s hometown and still in my mom’s home state, my dad embarked on a series of teaching roles at different schools in the area and my mom focused on raising us at home and simultaneously instilling in us a love for reading. My mom eventually went on to become an elementary librarian for 17 years while my dad has been teaching for over 30 years - mainly as a math teacher. 

Although I am their child I rarely sit down with them just to quiz them on their career choices and corresponding learnings so I’m hoping this episode will be helpful to anyone wanting to learn about the education system, the challenges and rewards of being a teacher and more. I also ask them how being educators affected their parenting styles because I’m just out here trying to understand my #background and #upbringing. 

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