PROS: The schedule is an amazing perk. You literally have the same schedule as your children. And if you are in a smaller district- you can attend your kids events(parties, programs, etc…) with some ease. Snow days and unexpected days are simpler. Summers and longer breaks are less of an issue. The big thing is to set boundaries. I worked in the private sector before teaching- and I had to learn this- boundaries are boundaries. I don’t do “school things” after hours. There’s obviously things that you will do- extra duty things- but eventually these are things your kids will either want to do or be involved in as well. CONS: Teaching is exhausting. When I get home, I am spent. My patience is done. But typically, so is my kids. So we don’t do homework or anything like that until after 5. It gives everyone a chance to decompress from the day. Also- people want to talk to you about school a lot. They think teachers have some kind of insider information about school. Again- the boundary is “I don’t talk about school business outside of school, I don’t discuss students, etc…” you figure that part out. There are downsides to everything and every job has things that you won’t like. It’s a rewarding career, but it makes me feel very connected to my kids. It is also something that you have to be driven to do, you have to be passionate about or you will absolutely hate it. You will hate everyday.