MOMS: Do you think this is taking on too much?

BreatheFree · Nov 7, 2007

Thanks Tiffany and everyone else for the replies. I am still deciding but I am leaning towards doing it. I think one of the reasons that I am hesitant is because Speech is on the list. I HATE public speaking. However I am taking classes at the satellite campus close to my house and its the only class that I need that fits into my schedule on the nights I want to be gone. I think I need to just get it over with though. I am not too worried about the math class because I always did really well in algebra. The medical terminology class meets one time for an hour on the main campus and then the rest is online.

Mommy2NQ · Nov 7, 2007

You should try taking the classes that you want the next semester and see for yourself how it goes. The follwing semester you can always cut back. I do recommend getting the general classes out of the way before you start your Chemistry, A and P, and Micro. These can get time consuming. Good luck and do not let yourself get burned out.

kellej · Nov 7, 2007

I am only 21, but a SAHM to 3: ages 5, 14 months, and 10 weeks. I started my prereqs last year, right after I had my son. 4 months after he was born, I got pregnant again. I've been in school full-time ever since, throughout the entire pregnancy, pre-term labor and all. This semester, my classes (on campus) began when my daughter was 4 days old. I have not slept one night in over 14 months (my son had many medical issues also) and have made all A's except one. I just recently got accepted into the Nursing program and will begin in Jan. So, YES! You can do it! If you're unsure, maybe go for only 3. I would not recommend you taking all the "easy" classes up front- I would recommend taking maybe 2 "easy" classes w/ one science. If you take all the "easy" classes up front, you will be left with only the harder sciences to take all together at once, which would be much more difficult! Also, my suggestion is to try to take more online classes- I have taken everything online except all sciences and maths. It lessens the time you must spend away from your children. Just have the determination and tell yourself you're sacrificing now to be able to provide better for them in the future... You will get through it and be just fine! Good luck!

itsa307 · Nov 7, 2007

Just wanted to let you know that I was afraid of taking Speech also so I decided that it would be the first class I took. I took it as a Summer class so it was only 8 weeks, actually 7 because the teacher missed a class and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The class was very diversified as far as ages and I just always chose a topic that I knew something personally about. We gave 3 speeches. The first was an intro, the second I did on motherhood and the last I did on why women should breastfed. It was an easy A even though I was very uncomfortable up infront of everyone. My heart raced and I was sweaty but I did it! You will be fine - just choose topics to speak on that you have personal experience with and that will help make you more comfortable even if you lose your place you can just go with the flow and make it up.

kellej · Nov 7, 2007

one more suggestion... try to take the easy classes in 8 wks...it works out much better! then you'd only be taking 2 at a time, but 4 per semester

BreatheFree · Nov 7, 2007

Thanks for all of the great advice and encouragement. I really think I am going to do it. As far as taking a science this semester, I can't. My school requires Algebra before Chemistry and Chemistry before all of the other required sciences. Also my school offers very few online classes. Besides after taking an online course last semester I think I will benefit from being in the classroom. I think its harder to procrastinate when you have to go to class each week. And I KNOW that I can benefit from being away from the kids for a while. :)

catzy5 · Nov 7, 2007

Just wanted to let you know that I was afraid of taking Speech also so I decided that it would be the first class I took. I took it as a Summer class so it was only 8 weeks, actually 7 because the teacher missed a class and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The class was very diversified as far as ages and I just always chose a topic that I knew something personally about. We gave 3 speeches. The first was an intro, the second I did on motherhood and the last I did on why women should breastfed. It was an easy A even though I was very uncomfortable up infront of everyone. My heart raced and I was sweaty but I did it! You will be fine - just choose topics to speak on that you have personal experience with and that will help make you more comfortable even if you lose your place you can just go with the flow and make it up.

We had a choice public speaking of interpersonal communication, I took interpersonal, boy I hated it! I have a friend that took public speaking and she said it was so much fun. Make sure you get a good instructor, I never register for a class without first checking ratemyproffesour.com

coolpeach · Nov 7, 2007

When I started to school I had two in middle school, and one starting Kindergarten. I had no idea how I would do it, but it worked out. It's actually been great because the older boys got to see that if I could do it they could do it. I brought everything I learned home, and presented it to my youngest who was five. At night during reading time we would discuss science, math, and english. In the evening we would listen to classical music from my music appreciation class, and talk about composers. When he started 2nd grade he knew all of his square roots, and all of his math through 5th grade. He learned to love classical, and decided to play the violen this year when he started middle school. He is also in the science club, and makes all A's. He wants to grow up to be a palintologist, and plans on going to DCCCD high school when he's a junior so he can graduate from high school at the same time he gets his Associates degree. I am not sure he would be going down the same road if I hadn't gone back to school. My older two were all about football, and being popular. It opened up a whole new world for our family I just wish the older two would have also been younger.

It will be tough, but it will benifit all your family.

BreatheFree · Nov 7, 2007

Coolpeach that is really encouraging. My boys are very excited about me becoming a nurse but not so excited about me being gone more. I have been a sahm their whole lives. I really enjoyed taking classes online but I think it will be so much better for me to be out of the house.

karen230 · Nov 8, 2007

Hi everyone. I am a 27 year old SAHM to 4 boys ages 6, 4, 2 and 7 weeks. I am trying to plan my schedule for next semester. The plan was to only take 2 classes however I am now leaning towards 4 (13 credit hours). I only have 12 credits currently and would like to start nursing school (BSN) in the Spring of 2010. I wrote up a mock schedule and think it would be in my best interest to take a full load now with the "easier" classes before I have to take the harder classes so that I can take less hours then. My concern is whether or not 13 hours would be too much to take on right now with 4 kids considering one is only 7 weeks old. I think that I can do it but it kind of scares me. My classes will be in the evenings. I will only be gone Monday (5 hours), Tuesday(2 hours) and Thursday (5 hours) nights. My dh will have the kids in the evening.
Anyways, what do you think? Am I taking on too much???

Without reading any of the other responses, I would say you have already answered your own question. You say that you are concerned that 13 hours is too much with 4 kids, and that you "think" you can but it "scares" you. I would say with 4 kids and one only 7 wks, ease back a little. Even if you are taking the "easy" classes now, you still need time to study and you are a SAHM w/a 7 wk old. Really you are the only person who can answer your question as you only really know what your kids are like and how much time during the day you will be able to sit and truly study. But I only have 2 kids and believe me they are 4 and 1 and I KNOW they will not leave me alone long enough to study unless they get plugged into a movie and they can't agree on the movie. The 1 yo wants Blue's Clue's and the 4 yo wants The Incredibles so 1 of them is usually making some sort of noise and I pretty much need quiet when I'm studying not the sound of cars crashing or toys being destroyed by a 1 yo armed with a Whack a Mole hammer!

karen230 · Nov 8, 2007

Oh I forgot to mention the classes that I plan on taking. Math, English, Speech and Medical Terminology (online course). Thanks!

Sorry I jumped the gun in my response, I didn't see which classes you are taking before I replied.

English is very doable w/little kids.

Speech required very little effort on my part for a B.

I took Medical Terminology it wasn't too bad but I took it many years ago when I worked in a healthcare facility and haven't used it in so long that I have lost it. I would suggest taking that a little closer to your Nursing classes. But overall the course was a little work but once you learn how the terminology actually works and used to using it a little it actually makes sense and gets easier.

The math really depends on how strong you are in Math. It also depends on the type of math your school requires. The ADN program does not require math but if I want to continue to BSN, stats is a pre-req for just about any BSN program in my area. I have attempted stats twice and had to drop it both times so for me, there is no way I could do stats with my kids around.

Leomom · Nov 8, 2007

Let me start this with I am a SAHM with two boys ages 7 & 14 months. I'm with everyone else on this the big question would be your littlest one. What if you only did 2 or 3 classes right now to get you back in the swing of things & then go with a full load after 1 or 2 semesters? As for the classes you choose if you're good at english & writing then it doesn't sound too bad in my opinion. I know how hard it can be though. I was taking online classes this time last fall & my youngest was born Sept. 1, 2006 so I can understand the challenge you may face. But as long as oyu have a good support system it's always worth a shot, just remember the time you will need outside of class to study, you'll have to find a way to get that time in too. Good luck.