I was just wondering if there are any moms or dads out there who are a single parent and going thru nursing school. I just wanted to know how difficult it is when you are by yourself.
I know Nursing school is tough, but the added part of being a single parent I think would make it harder.
I have two young boys. My husband just left me a couple months ago for a trashy younger girl. I now have the two boys on my own. Im making him pay for me while Im in school, so I dont have to worry about that part as much.
Im just wondering how hard it is going to be able to study, etc. when you have kids at home by yourself.
Anyway sorry if this seems like a rant. Im just wondering how others out there are doing it and if you have any tips.
I am the mother of a nine month old and I will be starting nursing school in January (hopefully)....currently I am working and have my own house and car, but am going to be transitioning to move back in with my parents. (nightmare) This is really going to drive me crazy, but I know it is something that must be done as I am going to need as much help as possible! How was the transition? And how did your parents feel about you moving back home?
For me, the transition wasn't too bad, as my kids and I would visit my mom for a week or two at a time. It sucks not having my own space, but it's worth it. My mom wanted me to go back to school for a long time, and although she was sad about my divorce, she was thrilled for me to be going back to school, and likes having us closer to home.
My kids and I slept on an inflatable mattress on the floor of my sister's bedroom for the first 9 months after we moved in, and even that wasn't TOO horrible!
I am a single mom to a 7 year old son. I am just at the tail end of my first year of nursing school (4 weeks left - thank God).
I have to echo what everyone else said. It is VERY hard but also do able! I have incredible mommy guilt at some moments, but, I hope and pray that at the end of the day it'll all be worth it...
I'm a single parent to one teen boy still at home. My issue isn't so much daycare, finding time to study, or caring for my son's needs - it's financial. I was recently laid off and can collect unemployment, but once that's gone, it's all back on my shoulders (we don't get child support - state is supposed to be helping with that but it's been 4+ years, I'm not counting on it. He has a lawyer, I'm my own representation). I know I'm going to have to work and go to nursing school (finishing my pre-reqs over the next year) - and that it won't be easy. But my Mom did it - twice (LPN and again RN).
I don't qualify for the WIA program - they only pay for 2 years and my actual start date for nursing school may be Fall 2010 if accepted - too far out. Yes, I can get grants/FA - but the day-to-day living expenses aren't. We've trimmed back quite a bit - so we'll see what happens in the next year! Stalking some threads here about working while in nursing school helps, as does knowing there are others out there doing it!
All that to say - if you want it bad enough, you'll/we'll find a way to do it.
Specializes in Case management, occupational health.
I am a single mom. A lot of my classmates are single moms. It is hard but we make it work. All of us work full time and go to school full time. I do not have a supportive family- financially or emotionally.
You just have to be creative to find extra study time. I have pretty much given up TV. I make notes on post its and put around my make up mirror, I use index cards made with the sticky like post its and put them on my kitchen cabinets, when I am cooking or washing dishes I quiz myself, if I know the answer I take it down, if I don't it goes back on the cabinet. When I take my daughter to girl scouts, soccer, dance etc I take my stuff with me and study in the hallway or in the car.
You will be amazed at all the creative ways you will come up with to add study time to your day without taking time away from your kids.
I became a single mom at 18. My husband and I met when my son was 15 months old. Now I have a 4 1/2 yr old and a 9 month old. Even though I'm married, my husband works 3rd shift, sleeps during the day, or has court. So I'm basically a single mom. He works in law enforcement so if we are lucky we get to see him about an hr and half to two hrs every day. It is def. hard, but like everyone else said it's doable. Every minute they sleep, study! If you can make friends with other parents in your class then maybe you could switch days with them, one day you watch their child and vice versa. Thats what I'm doing this semester. It will def help...daycare is too expensive! Stay Positive and determined...You can do this! Good Luck :)
I am a single mom; too, my son is 6. I’ll be starting my 2nd semester this Fall, I get child support and I work full-time, my classes were Monday & Tuesday during the day and clinical Wednesday & Thursday night. When I first started I teamed up with 3 of my classmates and split the chapters and took notes on the parts that we selected, we either typed them (easy to send via email) or wrote them out and photocopy them, so it made reading less stressful. Some times I would record myself reading the notes and placed the notes on my ipod and listen to them every chance I got, in the car, on lunch breaks and before I went to bed. I mainly study all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Just checking on your progress! I, too, am a single mother with a 5 yr. old and 2 yr. old. They are easily occupied sometimes. But an RN gave me great advise. Since I already have to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning she suggested getting up earlier to study. I have tried this since she suggested it and my grades have improved. I am a junior (ready to be a senior) LPN student. I live with my parents, because my baby's daddy was the big L! And I only work one 8 hour day a week. I have to devote all my effort into this because I am going to be the breadwinner for my kids. I really miss the me time though! I need to really find some me time. Oh and I also get childcare assistance which only ends up costing me $10 a week for both kids (because one is in kindergarten). I hope everything is going alright for you now.
aww thanks for checking! It has been ok so far since I'm just finishing my pre-reqs. I'm applying this fall to some Nursing schools, so Im keeping my fingers crossed.
It is tough at times, especially since my family isn't around. Between raising the two boys on my own, school, working part time, and still having to deal with their crazy father sometimes who lives across the country, it can be exhausting. I just keep trying to look at the big picture at the end.
Anyway thanks again for everyones replies so far, they are really helping to keep me inspired that this can be done as a single parent!
I am a single parent of a 2 year old...the father is not in the picture and I get no child support. Ive had to move in with my mother and its been rough to say the least. My child and I share a room and I sleep on a carpeted floor next to my childs bed every night for the last 2 years. When I was laid off from my job I made the decision to go to Nursing school. I will be entering pre-nursing getting my pre-reqs done in spring 09 and hoping to enter the program in Fall 2010. Its so encouraging to hear all the single moms out there say it can be done. I know its going to be hard. Ive applied for Financial Aid and will be getting school completely paid for plus I will be taking the maximum allowed out for loans to cover my living expenses in the meantime so I dont have to work. Im not cut out for work, nursing school AND being a single mom, huge respect to those of you who can do all 3. My biggest concern is going to be finding study time and finding a way to have someone get my child to daycare for me during clinicals which will have me leaving the house at 5:30-6am. It will all be worth it and I will be able to breath a huge sigh of relief in May 2012 though! I wish us all luck!!
I am a single mom of an autistic 4 year old. I am looking for grants or scholarships to attend school to become a Nurse anesthetic......my sister is an LPN and she keeps telling me how hard school is.....I am a fightr but at the same time I am scared.......dunno how am gonna do it......any one knows of any grants?
Another single mom here. My boys are 8 and almost 5, but I am very lucky as their dad is very much in the picture and has them almost every weekend. I, too, live with my parents and it has been great! Fortunately they have a lot of room, my boys have their own room and I have my own living space in the basement with my own bathroom. My parents help so much with childcare, they watch my kids while I work nights and now that I'm starting nursing school this semester, my dad will be getting the boys on the bus in the am and taking the little one off the bus and staying with him til I get home. This will only be 3 days a week though, so it won't be that bad. I don't know where I'm going to find the time to do all this reading, as my job is reluctant to cut back my hours, so we'll see how it all works out. Where there's a will, there's a way!
Oh, I get financial aid for school & work part-time, I'd rather not take out any loans unless I absolutely have to, I just paid off all my credit cards and am completely debt free!
Nepenthe Sea
585 Posts
For me, the transition wasn't too bad, as my kids and I would visit my mom for a week or two at a time. It sucks not having my own space, but it's worth it. My mom wanted me to go back to school for a long time, and although she was sad about my divorce, she was thrilled for me to be going back to school, and likes having us closer to home.
My kids and I slept on an inflatable mattress on the floor of my sister's bedroom for the first 9 months after we moved in, and even that wasn't TOO horrible!