Ginny Moyer

Food cravings, mood swings, swollen feet and more–most women do not enjoy going through these side effects of pregnancy even once, but 5-months-pregnant English teacher Ginny Moyer is expecting her second child in September, two years after her first son Matthew was born.

Balancing pregnancy and teaching is difficult, according to Moyer. “Your body is doing a lot of work to make this new person, and teaching is physically demanding,” Moyer said. “It’s not just sitting a cubicle; it’s really performing. So after a while, the fatigue starts to get to you.” Pregnancy, however, can actually help improve work habits, according to Moyer. “Teaching is an all-consuming job, so as a teacher, you often burnout and work yourself to the ground,” she said. “When you’re pregnant, you realize it’s not just about you, which gives you permission to not work too hard.”

Moyer also pointed out how the duties of teachers and mothers coincide. “There’s an overlap between the two, because in both cases, you care about someone’s growth–your child and your students,” Moyer said. “You want them to be good citizens, to learn to be responsible and to lead a happy life—both at home and in the classroom.”

Moyer expects the second pregnancy to be harder than the first. “In your first pregnancy, you’re exhausted by the end of the day, but you can come home and relax,” she said. “Now, when I go home, I have to chase my son around.”

Nonetheless, Moyer looks forward to caring for two children at the same time. “I think it will be fun to see the two kids interact,” she said. “It will be a huge adjustment for my son, obviously, having another child in the house. Over the years, I hope they grow up to be friends, and they hopefully won’t torture each other too much.”

Moyer also has some parting advice for students. “Be nice to your pregnant teachers, because it’s a lot harder than it looks,” she said.