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

Published

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???

Specializes in Med/Surg.

No i dont think so...I also have a newborn baby taking 3 classes a semester plus a cna class...as long as you have support and dont ever give up...because its so worth it in the end. Im always here if u need to talk

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My advice is to NOT take the 4 classes.

Stick to the 2 that was part of your original plan. You have alot of children and they are very young. If you take on too much and your grades suffer for it, you will have difficulty getting into the program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the replies. I am still thinking but I am leaning towards taking 4. Worse case scenario I can always drop a class. I am meeting with an advisor in a week so hopefully that will help me make my final decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just remember if you drop a class after the first day you don't get a full refund, plus you are out of the cost of your book for the class...that can get very expensive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not a mom, so you can disregard my input.

Can you take any of these classes online? That will free some time up in the evening. I love taking online classes and I have no problems trying to pass them. My work is due midnight on sunday so I can do a small part each day of the week. The downside is that you have to be a self starter.

I think you can do it. But the 7 month old still demands alot of attention. How does your husband feel about you going back to school? Is he supportive because that is very very important. If he's supportive, it will make life for you easier.

I truly wish you loads of luck and that you graduate with honors and pass the NCLEX the first time. Be an insipration to your children.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just remember if you drop a class after the first day you don't get a full refund, plus you are out of the cost of your book for the class...that can get very expensive.

Where I'm at, if you drop after a week you get a 100% refund. Second week you drop: 75% refund, third week: 50%, you get the idea.

But you're right about books. If you drop alot of classes that's wasted money. Unless of course, you sell them to other students or on ebay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My husband is very supportive of my going to school. The sooner I finish the sooner he can go back and finish. As far as the baby he is a pretty content baby and is on somewhat of a schedule.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you would have to reconsider in taking too many classes especially with a 7 weeks old. I would suggest to take 2 classes first, which would be a lot easier to study for and manage, after the semester is over then you'll be able to get yourself back to a full time student. I'm a mother to a two year old, work full time and go to school full time. It was hard at first trying to get back to school, but I started out a little slow and adjust my whole family into the routine. After one semester I'm taking 13-15 credits course loads now, and barely managing, but sometimes you have to squeeze every minute you got to study for what you want.

But honestly, only you can tell how much you can handle. I'm suggesting two classes, because four would require a lot of study time, and with four kids I don't know how they are with leaving you alone to study. I think it would be good to slowly start adjusting them into your routine as you are with theirs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I am in a similar situation. I have a year old and an 8 month old. I started seriously thinking about nursing right before I became pregnant with my second. If it were just my older daughter, I wouldn't have a problem going to school full-time to get my pre-req's out of the way, but 8 months is too young IMO. The daycare I sometimes use the kids have to be a year anyway. I can't afford another one (it is the cheapest one around here, you pay by the hour and don't have to reserve spots) and I don't know anyone else to watch them. Plus he is still too demanding to get much studying done. Now my husband is very supportive, and I have been looking into night or online classes, taking one or two at a time. We just don't have the money right now for even that. But I really want to do it. I feel like I am wasting time, so I know where you are coming from. Plus, I am just excited to get started.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

Oh, and another thing that kinda sucks for me, is that most of the prereqs to apply to nursing school here, there are prereqs for those! UGH!! A&P you have to take General Bio I & II (which I have taken, but ten years ago and they won't accept them now), and developmental psych you need General psych. I took that too, not sure if they will accept it or if it is too old (I think it only affect science classes). Some of the schools also require nutrition and medical terminology, some don't. It is very confusing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yeah the pre-requisites are those which hold you longer from applying into most of the nursing programs. I'm thankful that the school I'm going to, Middlesex County College, A&PI are co-requisites to Nursing. Our pre-requisites are General Bio and Chem, which majority of the high school students would've taken already. On top of that we don't take the NLN pre-entrance exam, we take the TEAS which is much simpler. Not much A&P questions, just basic science that you should know from high school and basic math. Plus they're accepting 110 students into the nursing program this year. They're really good at joining their program with known hospitals and universities.

Good luck to everyone! Being a mom doesnt mean you have to put your life on hold. Pursue your dream and never give up, so when you succeed, you'll be able to offer your child the opportunity in life that you always dreamed of.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

we take the TEAS which is much simpler. Not much A&P questions, just basic science that you should know from high school and basic math

This is so funny to read things like this. I am studying for the TEAS now, I take it this Saturday, and the Science portion (my best subject) is killing me! I have never taken any of these science courses before. Ap and micro and even Chemistry I would ace, but this science on the TEAS is nothing I have ever seen before. As far as learning it in high school that would have been 20+ years ago, however we never really took science I took a basic life science class and that was it. Physics and thermo dynamic stuff in the TEAS study guide is doing my head in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion