Study And Kids

Berta · Aug 5, 2003

Moonielove, I can certainly understand your frustration. My kids are now 3 and 8 and I have a hard time studying with them being awake. Usually I just give up after reading the same page 4 times and still don't know what I read.

I found the best time to study for me was before the kids get up or after they go to bed. I found 5 am to be pretty good. Also, I study after they go to bed. The best study time for me has been to go to my town library after classes and stay there for an hour or two studying. That way, the kids were already with the sitter and none the wiser.

1 hour of library study time equals 10 hours study time with kids for me.

Good luck, Berta

maire, ASN, RN · Aug 5, 2003

I can relate. I have 3 children, ages 8yrs., 9yrs. and 17 months. With the 2 older girls it's fairly easy, as they are in school all day and when they are home they pretty much do their own thing and don't feel the need to watch me study/bombard me with questions. The baby, however, is a different story. I study when he naps (I usually get a good 2 hours in) and after he goes to bed, around 7-8pm-ish. When hubby isn't deployed it's easier, but with him gone, time is precious and I grab the few minues to read or do homework whenever I can. It always seems to work itself out. :)

lvn2004 · Aug 5, 2003

This is what I am worried about as well. I have an 8 year old and a 17 month old. I am going to start out studying around 8 p.m. when I put them both to bed and see how that works. I will be in school all day so this is really the only time I will have time to study, except on weekends.

Cynthiann · Aug 5, 2003

Sounds like my kids, I have a 2 & 3 yo boys. It seems like their favorite word is 'Mama' since they say it all the time. I try to squeeze in every spare moment possible- in the morning, nap time (the time they rarely nap at the same time) or at night. The majority of my study time is on the weekend because I really don't get a whole lot done during the week when DH is at work.

shelleybelle · Aug 5, 2003

the ONLY time I got to study was when my son was asleep or I'd send him to my mom's. It's hard... but always works itself out one way or another. Staying after class is a good idea, but hard to do after you've been there all day. I could do it after I took a short break though. Good luck!

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 5, 2003

I have 2 children, ages 5 yrs and also a 20 month old.

For me the *only* time I can study is when they are asleep at night. I take evening classes and am usually home by 9pm (which is when my husband puts them both to bed). So I am able to start studying by 10pm and am usually up till 2am (sometimes later depending on what needs to be done!!). Some people are morning people (which I am not) and will get up at 4-5am before the kids get up to study. Also work on naptimes with him so you can get some studying done when he naps- or at least just a break for your own sanity. My youngest naps at 1ish-4pm everyday and at that time I make my 5 yr old go lay down and she will watch a video. I do that so I can get some much needed time to myself to study, take a nap myself since I get no sleep, etc.

One of the best things that helps me is I have a wall calander and I write test dates, papers due, docs appt, just everything. That way I can see at a glance what it going on for the day/the week.

You can do it but it will just take some time till you find a system that works for you.

Marilyn

dosamigos76, RN · Aug 5, 2003

Moonielove,

I know you probably didn't realize this, but online-when you post in capital letters, it is considered yelling. No biggie, just wanted to let you know.

I agree with the other posters, you usually will have to study when they're asleep. I wholeheartedly agree that you HAVE to put into place a routine. It will make everyone in the household much happier once it is established.

I sure wish you the best of luck.

Cheryl

jschut, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2003

I guess I am rather fortunate in that my children are old enough to deal with themselves, but we do have a 6 y/o grandson who ives with us and does make Gramma crazy at study time! I have just sort of learned to blank him out or just tell him that Gramma needs to study.

He usually wants to have some "homework" too, so I have downloaded and printed him a bunch of school papers he can do while I am doing my homework.....

We do our homework together!

Good Luck!

I hope you find something that works for you!

Julie :)

TeresaRN2b · Aug 5, 2003

Definitely stressing about that problem here. I have 5 kids - ages 10, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. Here is my plan. I plan to go to the library and study 2 hours two nights a week. My kids are pretty good about going to bed, except for my youngest so until the baby starts going to sleep earlier it's probably going to be the library for me. My hubby tries hard, but when I am home the kids want me - especially the baby. It is too hard for me to not pick her up if she is fussing so if I leave then I am forced to let my husband handle things. Now, this is all just a plan right now because quite honestly I am completely panicked right now as to how this is actually going to really work. Up until now I have been able to squeeze in study time to nights and nap times and the brief times my kids have been quiet, but now I think I will need more study time than I had before. Good luck to you. I am sure you will find some system that will work for you.

Teresa

bigwavedave · Aug 5, 2003

one suggestion that was given to me last semester when i was at my wit's end...dealing w/a 3 y/o son and trying to study while he is at home w/me and wife is working...was check into your local public library or rec center. see if they have a reading program or somekind of program that kids can be involved with. i especially liked the library idea b/c if you can let them read to your kid(s) that encourages them to appreciate reading while letting you go off to a corner and study. the only thing is i don't know what age programs like that start with everywhere. i too have also found that burning the midnight oil is one of the only ways to get studying done, of course it is hard to get up for a class at 0800 when you have stayed up until 0200 that morning. good luck and best wishes to everyone!

marci3335 · Aug 5, 2003

For the past 2 years I have done my best studying at the library. I have 3 kids, a 10 yr old stepdaughter who we have on weekends, my 8 yr old son who's in school until 3pm, and my 3 year old daughter who is attached to my hip.

I take my daughter to a local daycare for 1 full day a week so that I can study. At 3pm I pick up my son from school and bring him back to the library and he does his homework and then plays on the kid computer. Besides my library day I use naps to study.

If your child won't nap why don't you try to set into place "quiet time" take 1hour every afternoon and make him lay down, either in front of the TV or with a book and dim the lights. In most cases he will probably fall asleep during quiet time. Good luck and don't worry you will find a way that works for you!

Marci:)