From Classroom Walls to Kitchen Tables: Why I Chose Tutoring Over Traditional Teaching

For as long as I can remember, teaching has been more than a profession — it has been a passion. There is something magical about watching a child finally grasp a concept, seeing that spark of understanding in their eyes, and knowing you’ve played a part in their learning journey. Those light‑bulb moments never lose their shine.

For many years, I found that joy within the four walls of a classroom. I loved building relationships with my students, creating engaging lessons and helping children develop confidence in themselves and their abilities. Teaching wasn’t simply what I did; it was part of who I was.

Then I became a mother — the biggest and best update in my life.

Like many working mums in education, I quickly realised that balancing a teaching career with raising a young child is far from straightforward. Schools operate within structures designed to keep education running smoothly: timetables, staffing requirements, budgets, responsibilities. Children need consistency and schools need reliable staffing arrangements.

But what became increasingly clear was that the traditional education system is not always designed around the realities of motherhood. There is often an expectation that mothers will return to work according to a schedule that suits the organisation rather than the family. While maternity leave exists, the transition back can feel rushed, inflexible and difficult to navigate when your priorities have shifted.

My challenge wasn’t that I had fallen out of love with teaching — quite the opposite. I still adored educating children, planning meaningful learning experiences, and supporting young learners to reach their potential. What changed was that I also wanted to be present for my own child during those precious early years.

I often think about Maria Montessori and the sacrifices she made during her lifetime. As an educational pioneer, she transformed the way children learn, yet her work required long periods away from her son, Mario. While her circumstances were very different from mine, her story made me reflect on a tension many passionate women experience: the desire to pursue meaningful work while also wanting to be present for their families.

That reflection led me to tutoring — a flexible teaching career that allowed me to honour both parts of myself.

Choosing tutoring felt like a natural step. It offered a way to continue doing what I love while creating a lifestyle that worked for my family. Instead of leaving education behind, I found a different way to contribute to it — one that aligned with my values, my child and my new rhythm of life.

Tutoring gave me the opportunity to take everything I had learned as a classroom teacher and apply it in a more personalised, child‑centred setting. Working one‑to‑one or in small groups allows me to tailor lessons to each child’s unique needs. I can move at their pace, focus on their individual strengths and challenges, and celebrate every breakthrough along the way. This personalised learning approach is one of the biggest benefits of one‑to‑one tutoring.

Most importantly, tutoring allows me to be both an educator and a mother.

Instead of spending long hours attending meetings or completing endless administrative tasks, I can structure my working day around my family. I can be there for my baby, for family milestones and for the everyday moments that matter.

There is also something incredibly rewarding about welcoming learning into a more personal environment. The shift from classroom walls to kitchen tables has reminded me that meaningful education doesn’t only happen in schools. It happens wherever a child feels supported, understood and encouraged to grow.

Tutoring has reinforced something I learned during my years in education: every child is capable of success when given the right support. Sometimes all a child needs is a little extra time, a different explanation, or the confidence that comes from having someone believe in them. This is the heart of personalised tutoring for young children — gentle, responsive and deeply effective.

Of course, leaving the traditional classroom was not an easy decision. Teaching had been a huge part of my identity for many years. But career paths do not always need to be linear. Sometimes growth comes from recognising that your circumstances have changed and having the courage to adapt.

One lesson that became particularly important to me is understanding the reality of large organisations. No matter how dedicated or hardworking we are, schools must continue operating. People move on, roles are filled and systems carry on. While that can sound harsh, it also provides perspective. We are all replaceable in our jobs — but we are not replaceable in our families.

My son will only be young once.

The opportunity to witness his firsts, support his development and be present during these formative years is something I cannot get back. Tutoring has given me the chance to prioritise those moments without abandoning the profession I love.

Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a balance between my passion and my family life. I still experience those wonderful light‑bulb moments when a child suddenly understands a concept. I still get to inspire confidence, nurture curiosity, and help children achieve their goals.

The only difference is that now I get to do it in a way that allows me to be there for my family too.

And for me, that has made all the difference.