I guess I am in sorta the same position... only I am retired and use to have a lot of time on my hands but then came our first grandchild..> :) Need I say more? I just love him to pieces and I wouldn't give up a minute of the time I spend with him... I baby sit almost everyday.. :) but I sure miss all the time I use to have before he entered my life... :) The way I look at it though.. he brings just as much joy to my life as quilting does and I am going to just let all the rest of my free time sneak in on my so I can quilt... Torn between two loves.... but loving every minute of it.. :)

I too am a fulltime teacher I teach in a Christian School where everyone from fifth grade and up are on the same room. I do all subjects it is great fun But when I first started it was hard to find me time. Now I insist on an hour everyday for quilting and as much time as possible during the weekend. It is my destressing time. Make sure you get some time everyday for you just for your sanity. Enjoy your students. I was told today I have five new students coming next week. LOL

I teach to. I find that I take one day a month, to quilt. Right know I take my duaghter to a BOM on one Saturday a month. When I schdule it- I find time for it.

I know EXACTLY how you feel! It seems like we teachers are having more and more placed on our plates, and nothing is taken off. I've been working until 5:00 or 6:00 at school, and then bringing an armful of papers home to grade. And you'd think I'd have the job figured out by now - this is my 32nd year teaching! I love my summers.

I agree with trying to find time to quilt - I teach at nursing students & feel like I have to sandwich in my quilting along with everything else.

Another teacher here - 6/7/8 special needs. This year isn't as stressful as last year, but it's still something else. Several years ago i made myself a promise to not bring stuff home - i put in some pretty long days, but stuff isn't coming home as much...

eta: i get up early in the morning to get my quilting in..

Been there and empathize with you. Can you make a date with your sewing machine for a chunk of time on a Sat. or Sun. a couple times a month?

When I taught I belonged to a group that meet every other Wed. night at the local high school. How about setting up a quilter's group of 1 - you can establish a night during the week for your meeting & go off to your sewing space from 6:30-8:30.

Remember to make time for yourself or you'll get lost in the demands of your job.

I've taught full time high school, now subbing HS, and will sub full time HS for a teacher on maternity leave starting in Jan. Teachers have to slice precious little wedges of time for themselves. Here's one way -- teach your family to love leftovers, and cook huge meals that can be recycled/remodeled more than once. Take some of your precut pieces with you to school and pin them together on your lunch break, so they are ready to go when you do get to sit down at your sewing machine. Share them with your students -- they may love to design intricate pieced designs showing their math skills. Try to learn to love hand piecing and carry a baggie with the pieces and materials for a block along with you everywhere. It's amazing how they add up, and you are allowed to machine piece hand sewn blocks together -- quilt police be damned.

I, too, understand your dilemma... I taught HS science for 30 years, retired, went back to school to become a PTA and am now back to work! I didn't touch fabric for two years... That's the bad news. The good news is, like so many others have shared, you will find a routine, and while you probably won't get to spend as much time quilting as you would like, you WILL get to sew.
The other important thing to remember is that your work with students is SO IMPORTANT!! To have someone in their life who cares for them, as you clearly do, is powerful! Remember, you are impacting lives in ways you may never realize... every moment with them counts...
I will remember you in my prayers...

Like everyone else, I think you have set a routine including quilting time. But, with the extra money, you might be able to have your quilts LA quilted, buy books, extra thread, notions, etc. Once the in the fall and once in the spring (in this area) there are Shop Hops. Hopefully, you will be able to go on one. They are fun!! but seems as though I'm buying from each store, also!!

Thanks for taking the time to TEACH!!