Having your mother as a teacher at the same school can be a double-edged sword—equal parts reassuring and complicated. Some students feel a sense of pride and security, while others feel added pressure to be perfect or perform well. For parent and child alike, the school bell rings in not only lessons but emotional balancing acts that echo far beyond the classroom.
Students tend to feel as though they are on a microscope, being compared to everyone else and having expectations placed upon them to perform greater just because their parent is employed in the building. Social relationships become strained, with peers making assumptions about being treated differently or playfully calling the student the “teacher’s pet”—no matter what. This can isolate students or make them excessively self-conscious.
For the parent-teacher, the dilemmas are equally genuine. Finding the balance between professional obligation and parental urge can be difficult, particularly in the face of school discipline or academic difficulties. Many indicate holding back their feelings or overcorrecting by being more strict with their own children to prevent accusations of bias. The emotional work of juggling dual roles comes at a cost that is rarely talked about.
Yet, this communal space can also create special connections. Those families who navigate it with open communication and set boundaries tend to come out stronger, with greater understanding of one another’s realms. With structure and empathy, the school corridor need not be a pressure cooker—it can be a journey toward growth for all.
