anxiety about evening Childcare

[Mahogany77]

Hello all,

I am a going to start my ADN program soon. I chose the evening weekend option as I work during the day. The classes will be held three nights out of the week from 6pm To 10pm plus Clinicals on Saturdays 6:45 am to 4:00 pm. I'm excited about starting Nursing has always been a dream of mine. Howevet, I am experiencing anxiety thinking of the fact that I have to leave my 3 year old son at evening child care facility. I also feel guilty at the thought of bouncing him from daycare during my working hours then taking him to the evening place. I tell myself I am doing this for his future but the guilt creeps in. Am I doing the right thing? Should I wait? Any advice would be great

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I have also never met a child that said "gee I wish I could have had more cool "stuff" as a kid instead of time and attention from my parents". There is a lot of levels between getting by and crushing poverty.

It's hard to just "get by" when you have a child, regular bills & a terrible paying job. Children are expensive!

I'm not implying she will spoil her child with stuff instead of affection. I'm saying she will more than able to make up for time lost during nursing school when she is a nurse. She will have one good paying job & can save up to go on vacations or just spend time with him. Whereas if she doesn't go to school it will be hard to do anything fun, especially if she has to pick up more hours at work or another job completely. Not to mention the benefits she will get through her job.

Again, I don't think any child is happy growing up poor. Not because they want stuff, but because of lack of time spent with their parent(s). People who have careers can get PTO, sick days & etc. The benefits through a menial labor job aren't great. There are so many pros & just a few negatives.

[esrun77]

1. You will become a nurse, no matter what!

2. Aim for either family to watch your child or to have a reliable sitter come over to your house at night.

3. I'm not sure the other poster was right in telling you to put off school completely, but there is something to be said for parent-child bonding at that young age, and your powerful influence as his mom--I would really avoid having your child in childcare facilities for that much time, if I'm being totally honest. Is it possible to work part-time so you can have more study time and you son can be at daycare less? Examine every single possibility out there--moving to be nearer to family?

You can give your son a better life in the future if you have a better job, of course. Just remember that his life matters right now too.

***Also, I am a single mom and moved back home so that my son could have a stable environment while I go to school. It's uncomfortable for me--I don't even have a car. But my son is happy, even though I'm not (yet). And I'm one year and a half away from graduating with my BSN. :)