I am a regular teacher. I teach math to fifth through ninth graders. Sometimes I help them prepare for exams. So I have more than enough work to do.
Sometimes I get offers to tutor someone. This is for extra money. But I don’t have time for all that. Well catastrophically not enough time!
I have a lot to do at school. All the time I have to fill out something. And on the computer, too. At home I clean and cook. So in some classes I have to do elective classes. When the second quarter began, my spouse’s sister realized that their son knew nothing about algebra. Naturally, I took it upon myself to pull him up. I couldn’t say no to my relatives.
I noticed that my husband’s nephew understood algebra quite well. Only slight misunderstandings in some subjects. But he tries, he is diligent and conscientious. And he worries a lot about his grades.
In just one time he and I were able to make up for his gaps in knowledge. He started solving equations and problems on his own. We solved assignments for a test and did his homework for tomorrow.
And then he comes to us again. All excited and happy. The teacher complimented him on his homework and the test was solved correctly. He was just coming to me to get more confident. After all, when I encouraged him, he was happy about it. Basically, he was good at everything. And he was learning on his own, without any help.
I spent about an hour and a half or two hours with him. I started talking to my daughter-in-law. I told him what was wrong and why I wasn’t allowed to tutor my nephew. And he just kept coming and coming to me. So I went to talk to my husband’s parents. Well, what else was there to do?
I gave them lots of arguments and told them that I was very busy. That there was a catastrophic lack of time. Plus they could just sign up for a tutor.
Of course, all the relatives began to think that I was just greedy and calculating. I didn’t study for free. But at the same time they didn’t understand how difficult it really is for teachers and how they don’t have enough time.
