A mother received support and encouragement from netizens after revealing that, despite being a school teacher, her son had dropped out of high school.
Teaching is a demanding profession, as educators not only shape young minds but also act as role models. This challenge is heightened for teachers who are also mothers, as their children often face added societal expectations because of their parents’ profession.
Teacher Aisheen R. Baguio from Dipolog City expressed how heart-wrenching it was to make the decision to have her high school son drop out. In a viral Facebook post, she opened up about the emotional pain of that choice, but acknowledged that it was a necessary step.
Photo courtesy: Pixabay
“Today, I feel the pain of failure. I failed as a mother and as a teacher,” she said.
“It was shameful, and I don’t even want to talk about it with other people, but I need to share it for awareness, and it might also give some lessons, especially to those who are going through situations like this.”
Teacher Aisheen, a single mother, shared the difficulties she faced in raising her son while working as a public school teacher far from home. Assigned to a remote area, she could only return home on weekends or twice a month. This situation began when her son was in Grade 1, and now, at 12 years old, he has been transferred from one school to another each year, depending on who could care for him. For seven years, she juggled her passion for teaching with the struggle to provide for her family.
Despite requesting a transfer to a school closer to home, her appeal remains unaddressed. Through her experience, Teacher Aisheen realized that being a good teacher doesn’t necessarily make one a good mother. If given the chance, she would have chosen her child’s well-being over her career, understanding that no professional success could replace the fulfillment of being a good mother.
She also advocates for the government to prioritize transfers for single parents working in education, to allow them to better care for their children. Her post has resonated with many other parents and teachers facing similar challenges as working mothers.
Photo courtesy: Pexels
Her message to her son, “To my son, I’m sorry if cannot give you what you needed of me as a mother and as a teacher. I cannot even attend PTA meetings, I cannot be there when you need someone to teach you about your homework, I cannot cook breakfast for you or even bring you to school.”
“I’m sorry that I was not there to celebrate the milestones you had at school since grade 1 until now or the events that I failed to attend. I’m sorry I failed to protect you. Forgive me, I wasn’t able to give you someone good enough to look out for you. I’m sorry if I failed you.”