Need some advice......I got the acceptance letter which is exciting but it has always been for a June start date. This letter came with the unexpected option of starting this January in their new evening/weekend track Nursing Program. It looks like I could begin in January and take the LPN boards by December '07, whereas I would not take them until the following May '08. Then another year for RN. A six month head start. The catch is weekends and nights. I have a sophomore in HS who is active in sports and expects me to attend everything.

I just got the letter so I am still in shock.

Thanks for listening.

Theresa

Good luck with your decision....if I understand correctly, you still have the option of starting now or delaying until June.

Coming from the perspective of a newly empty-nester, your child will be graduated and off to college before you know it. If your attendance at sports functions means as much to you as it does to your child, you have your answer.

That's a tough decision. Did they give you any indication as to what the schedule is like? If it's, say, two nights a week and every other weekend or something, I would say go for it. Your child is old enough to understand that Mom has goals and dreams of her own and that pursuing them means sacrifices (just as you make sacrifices to support your child's goals and dreams) but that you will make every effort to be there for the events that you can. On the other hand, if the weekday schedule really works better for you, there's nothing wrong with sticking to the original plan. In the end it's only a few months difference. Good luck!

It is a tough spot, but overall, I say, if they expect you to be there (for all the games and stuff) then be there. simple. Your original plan will work just as good as when you first thought it out.

Your chlid is old enough to understand that sometimes parents have to make these decisions. Both my parents were in healthcare and working and I never had a parent at a PTA meeting (parent/teacher conferences yes), I never had one at awards day, I had to bum rides to ballgames, dances, etc.

Once I got mad at them and said I was sick and tired of being the only kid in high school who's parents never went to anything, and my father said, "Fine, your Mother can stop working, not a problem, but we aren't going to be able to do (fill in a HUGE list here)".

I shut up after that.

If you are planning on working immediately and need the income/benefits badly, start earlier. If you won't be negatively affected and it's very important to you to attend weekend functions with your child, start later. It will depend on your own personal circumstances.

If my mother had been presented with an opportunity like this while I was in high school, I would certainly have been understanding and urged her to take it.

Why not discuss this with your teenager and see what he thinks? You might be surprised! Most teenagers I know would understand that you are going to school for the good of the family as well as your own benefit. However, it is ultimately your decision to make...

Congratulations! :balloons:

:balloons: Thank you for all the advice. I called to get on the orientation list to see what it entails but I have already decided that I cannot miss my daughter's sports and dance performances. My oldest girl graduated this year and it went by so fast. My daughter starts in basketball and almost went to state in track last year. With the night schedule, I would miss these events and then I would be miserable, as would she. I am always there. My husband is a Pharmacist, works 12 hours and weekends and has missed alot of her events. Six months making 3 x the money I make now is worth missing out on not missing her performances. You can never get that back. Thanks again and congrats to the upcoming grads!

That would have been a hard decision for me to make. I wish you the best!