Need some advice...

[ashemson]

I will try not to make this confusing....!

I love the college I have been going to, I am used to it, I know alot of instructors, etc. I decided though to transfer to a community college to take 2 classes I need at night because of my family. I have three children that I didn't want to pay childcare for while going to school. I also am babysitting my nephew during the day for extra money. Anyway, the community college is giving me a really hard time about financial aid and stuff, not real impressed with this school as of yet. And as I vented in an earlier post, my husband is concerned with our income while I am in school.

My dilemma - should I go to the community college, babysit while doing so, but pay for 50% of my tuition while there, or go to my same college, get financial aid, and possibly get a small school loan to help out with childcare and other expenses? I would rather go to my same school of course, but I do need to make money also. I could get a PT job at night if I return to my same school, though. We have three children, so me NOT working altogether is not an option right now.

The more I think about school, the more this depresses me. I feel like by doing what I want to do, I am depriving my children of stuff they want to do because of finances, like their dance classes, etc. Isn't that silly? AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

Thanks for letting me vent again! I just analyze EVERYTHING and get so stressed over it!

[RNIAM, BSN, RN]

I think you need to look at the big picture. I am in the same boat with you. My girls go to dance classes etc. I am trying as hard as I can so that there will be enough money for all the things they want to do.If there isn't then they are going without for the next two years. They will have more than they can even dream about later when i am finished school and earning a decent wage.I know it is tough, as women we get pulled in every direction known to man. We can do anything that we put our minds to. My kids will live a couple of years without the best of everything. and when it over a nice trip to Disney will hopefully make up for it. Good luck to you and I hope your dreams come true:)

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Honestly, if you don't have daycare lined up or know of any places then I would look into the daycare issue first before you decided anything else. Sometimes daycare is easy to find and sometimes it is not. You and I are from the same city and I know you told me once what part you lived in but can't remember. I live in South KC and the daycare out by where I live is pretty tough to find. If you have a good program then you have a waiting list for many of them to deal with. Depending on the age of your children. So, if you have not decided on a daycare provider look into that first then take it from there. Once I look into daycare then I would think about your newphew. Have you made a long term commitment to his parents. Do they know that you are thinking about this? Do they have alternative daycare lined up? Feel free to e-mail me if you wish ([email protected]). I have some more suggestions for you that I can think of for the Kansas City area/Missouri.