Calling all Moms/Dads!!

msdeannah · May 8, 2009

I am a single mom of a 3 year old. and I work full time. My son is on a tight schedule. I put him to bed at 8:30 every night. I study from 8:30 until 10 or 11 every night. Also during my 1 hour lunch my books are open. Its doable. The first semester I took A&P and Chem and this sememster A&P II and psych. This semester is obviously lighter so I take Saturdays off from studying and I manage just fine. I start ns in the fall, I'm sure I'll have to make adjustments then but for now it's hard but not even close to impossible.

good luck.

monkeykiss · May 8, 2009

Hi there

I am a single mom as well and went back to school just this past spring semester. My son is 2yo and currently attends daycare when I am in school. I took 18 hour credits for spring and work fulltime as well. It is doable, all it takes is some hard core scheduling and sticking to it. In my case, I don't have any help at all in taking care of my kid besides the daycare, fortunately, he is an easy kid. He lets me work when we get home, and then study after dinner.

I going to be honest though, sometimes I feel guilty when I see him playing by himself in his little corner, but I tell myself, that I am doing this to give him a better future.

Good luck.

kalley · May 10, 2009

I am a mom of a 2 and 3 year old. I have spent the last 2 sememsters going to school full time and I had a part time job last semester. Bedtime for me is critical. It gives me an uninterupted couple of hours to do school work. When I have a big test or paper I take the boys to my in-laws for a few hours. I also sometimes put a movie in for them when I really have no other option. I sit in the dining room so that I can see them and get as much done that way as possible. Another thing I have recently done is create a space that is mine in our extra bedroom. When my husband is home I can escape for a little bit. One final thing, I try to make sure to make time every week for my husband and kids when I put both school and work aside and that is family time, that is super important to me.

Adams_Mommy_07 · May 11, 2009

i am just getting started on my pre/co-reqs in order to apply for nursing school hopefully next fall. for those of you that are already working on them, how to you manage all the studying along with trying not to miss anything with your kids (especially the young ones)
i have a 5 year old starting kindergarten this year, and an 8 month old. i also work full time. i am really trying to figure out how i am going to juggle, work, kids, and classes all at the same time. i know it is going to take alot of "time management" - (i have a feeling i am never going to hear the end of that phrase)
any advice you can offer to a newbie just getting started?

i am not a "single" mom, i live with my son's father (we were engaged for 8 months before i got preggo and then when we moved in together i called the wedding off--or should i say slammed on brakes just in the nick of time---so here we are). we both work full-time as well so when i am not home our son (who is 21 mos. old) is watched by my ex-fiance's parents (fortunately they live next door :)). however, once home from work/class i do all of the housework, so i keep to a tight schedule. i come home fix dinner, give our son a bath, and put him to bed at 8 o'clock. from 8-1030 i work on homework, every night. i find this gives me plenty of time to study, but little time for myself. in the mornings i get up extra early to take the 40 minutes or so it takes me to water my gardens, then i get ready and head off to work. it takes a lot of discipline to keep my grades at as, work full-time, tend to my family, keep my house immaculate but i do it. you will too. just make sure you have a set time for studying and that is what you do during that time (forget the t.v., internet, allnurses, etc).

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · May 11, 2009

Wow everyone else here has it harder then me....you either work or are a single parent. I can't imagine, I shouldn't complain so much, lol. Anyway...to answer the question.....it is hard. You really have to set aside the guilt because it'll eat you alive. Just remember it's temporary, after you're done with school you'll be able to be a mommy again. I have a 5 and 2 year old and I do most of my reading while they're sleeping. Sometimes even while they're playing together I'll get some reading done. A few times, if I've had an upcoming test, my husband will take them out. I wish you all the best!

gatoramyn · May 11, 2009

You can so do it. I am married with four children the oldest is 8 and I just had the youngest 3 weeks ago. It is hard I wont lie to you, but it can be done.

During the day it is all about the kids. I get my oldest off to school and she is there until 2ish, my 4 yr old is in pre-school from 12-3 and that left me with my then youngest 3 yr old and I was pregnant so that baby was easy. :) I would study while my oldest two were at school and the youngest was sleeping. I am now out of school and taking the summer off.

After I picked the kids up from school I went back to it being all about the kids, and then after there were in bed and I had my shower it was around 9 so I would study until 11 or later. I however did have the bonus that if I needed time to study my husband could work or stay home from work and let me go and study. I have taken all my pre-reqs except for A&P II, so far I have a 3.28 it is not the best but it is good.

Good luck you can do it, you just need to find out what works for you. I would suggest taken the easier classes the first semester so you can find what works best for you. Also if they offer any online and you think you would be on top of your work then this is a great way to take classes. I loved taking my classes online, most of the tests were at school but it was nice that I could log on any time that I was free and work instead of leaving sick kids behind to go to class.

Buffkat00 · May 11, 2009

Welcome to college! I am the mother to three babies: 7 (first grader), 5 (starting Kindergarten) and 3 (not in school, but high medical needs), I work full time and I have 10 credits at school. The bottom line, though you'll hear it again and again, really is time management. You need to plan more in advance than other people without children. Take advantage of every free minute; for instance, I get up earlier than my kids on the weekends when possible and study/write papers, etc. I find the quiet relaxing and can often get more done than if I try throughout the day while they are awake. I also take advantage of my lunch hour (when I'm not totally burned out). Most importantly, though, I remember to take some time for just ME! Even if it is simply a trip to pick up new sandals by myself, or to grab a coffee and read for 20 minutes, or taking a longer shower than normal to relax. Most importantly, love and appreciate your family and friends as they will be your most important allies while you're in school.

:yeah:

Good luck!