Maternity leave guilt

Do you think teachers are more likely to feel guilt over going on maternity leave seeing as we constantly hear how schools are struggling financially? I’m in a new-ish job and feeling so guilty because I will have to tell them soon that I will be going on maternity leave and I’m aware they will be forking the bill whilst being a staff member down. I know if I was talking to myself from the outside, I would tell myself that I shouldn’t worry or feel guilt. I don’t feel many other professions would feel this bad.

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I did before I went off. I felt guilty and very protective of my class and leadership responsibilities. This is all now a distant memory!

Not about the money side personally, teachers don't get great maternity pay compared to similar jobs and it's the governments fault schools are underfunded not ours! I might have felt guilty about leaving a class mid year, luckily I left and returned at the end/start of the academic year so I didn't have to worry.

I'm leaving halfway through GCSE exams this year, and my Year 11s will have only sat one of their geography papers before I go.. There's only so much you can do and prepare for, I promise, when you go on maternity leave, the school will be a distant memory! After having my first and now being pregnant with my second, you have to put yourself first instead of putting your life on hold for pupils that may not even realise how much you do for them or even remember you in a few years time.

I am in a new school this year and have had a catastrophic year with lots of absences. I ended up having to be off three full months. I am back now and feel so guilty. I feel like I can't take a single day off for the rest of the year.

I always remember You’re replaceable at work but not at home And that stops my guilt.

Thank you - those are some reassuring responses. I have no guilt towards children as I wouldn’t be leaving a class mid year. I feel the guilt towards the financial situation of the school which I know is not right. I am having a child and that is the most important thing in the world. If I left, they’d replace me in the blink of an eye but I feel like we’re constantly constantly hearing about how underfunded schools are. Teachers carry so much guilt for so many things beyond their control

@Emma I’m so sorry you are having such a tough year. You cannot feel guilty about being unwell - it is not your fault. (I know this is ironic that I say this after my original post)