Being a parent is hard work, especially for RHS’s many staff members who have to work double duty as a full-time worker and a full-time provider for their children.

Infants, toddlers, elementary school-ers and older compose the work-after-work that many RHS staff go home to after an eight hour (or longer) day teaching or running the school. Having a child is wonderful, but also full of challenges. So how do these parents manage to find the time (and the energy) to be full-time guardians and providers as well?

While teachers work, their children recieve care from either daycare services or family members.Social studies resource teacher Rene Shuler has a one-year-old son. Her husband or mother-in-law takes care of him while she works, which is six days a week. “My child needs a lot of attentiona�� It’s very tiring. You don’t have the energy to give them and play with them as much as you probably would really like to do, too, which makes it kind of hard,” said Shuler. Shuler said she is only able to see her son for a few hours a day on work days.

Considering this society is now almost dependent on two incomes per household, parents have to work in order to provide for their children to ensure the best future. This is exactly what RHS staff members are doing to offer a bright impending life for their offspring.

NSL teacher Steven Watson hires a day care provider to take care of his child while he and his wife work. However, when his son is sick, the parents take turns staying home. “I love coming home and playing with my son … it’s the part of the day I look forward to. It’s hard because of my schedule with coaching and teaching, though. Sometimes, there are days when I don’t get to see him for very long,” Watson said.

For staff members with older children who are already in school, the stress of having to find a way to take care of them while working is diminished.

However, some teachers have experienced mixing their parenting life and their teaching life, like social studies teacher Jane Frye. Frye’s two sons, Danny and Andy, are sophomores at RHS. Danny is a student in Frye’s NSL class and both sons will have Frye as their teacher next year for AP Economy. “[Having my son in my class] has really worked out well a�� I actually enjoy it. I get to see him every day a�� [However] he gets no special treatment,” Frye said.