I do not know how I am going to balance this? My children are 3 1/2 and 8 months old.
I registered for a online Math & online Humanities class for Spring 2008. One week into the semester I have already had to drop my courses - I have no time to read / study or do assignments! Everytime I would sit down to do some homework, I was interrupted. Of course my children come first - but I was hoping to have a few hours to myself during the day to study. My husband is gone most of the day so that is not an option. I work 12 hour shifts on the weekends. At this time online is the only way. Should I wait until I can actually attend on campus so that I have that time just for me?
Advice needed, I may try this again in Summer or Fall 2008
Unfortunately, I have NO advice specific to your question of doing online college, but what I'm trying to do at the moment, is listen to podcasts (iTunes U) to get started on my studies. Next year I hope to attend a CNA evening program, get a better job, and then prepare for nursing school. I can't do it this year (my husband's planning a return to night school in two months, and my little one was just prov dx'd with ASD), so I'm hoping to use my time 'creatively' this year to listen to podcasts so I don't have to learn everything at once.
Listening on an iPod, I can listen "wherever" -- taking notes is a challenge. My children are 9yo and almost 3yo, and my 3yo is my special needs kid, but my 9yo is my high-energy sensory kid. I also work freelance from home, so with home/job/kids/husband, something is always going on, and 'quiet time' does not exist here.
I sympathize with your situation ....... do you have extended family who could help? A local reliable teenager who could help with babysitting? A group of other mom students that maybe you could each take an hour to watch each other's kids while each of you studies?
Otherwise ... if you can put school off until another time when you might have more options, and maybe listen to podcasts or start your studies gradually on your own -- so it's not 'all at once' and not in the pressure cooker of college just yet. (That's the road I am taking, but it's not for everyone.)
Podcasts sound like an excellent idea ? How/where do you get them ? Is there a site that you download the information ? I am a mom with a fulltime job and teenagers ! You have to home for them too ! Thanks !
I totally feel you with this dilemma. It's just part of being a mom. You have to prioritize and reorganize so you can find time to pursue your goals. Try again summer session and use this semester to try to work with your husband to figure out a way to have some time to yourself. I was in a similar situation. My DH works all day and doesn't get home until 7pm at the earliest and we have no family here...so I waited a semester and worked things out so that my daughter can go to daycare all day on the days I have classes. I plan on studying during the day in the library at school and then at night after she's asleep. It seems to be a common theme with a lot of the moms I've talked to. If daycare or family help isn't an option then you will most likely do your studying after the kids are in bed and on the weekends when your husband can help. Good luck to you. Don't give up on your dreams!
Every student, every mother, every child and every family is different and all those individuals change and grow. What works for one may not work at all for another, or may work beautifully at a different time. If this isn't your time to be a student right now, that's okay! There is often time to be a student, but you can't go back and get your baby-time back. If your life is full and busy and you don't feel you can do both ... don't! Being a nursing or prenursing student is tough, irrespective of family obligations. Being a mom is tough, irrespective of academic obligations. Together it really hard sometimes. It sounds as if you have a choice and your heart has told you what to do for now.
I got through midwifery school and internship with 5 kids and often with a baby on my lap nursing while I studied. But there were times I had to leave my family and hated it, times when I had to decide if I wanted a clean house, or an A? Did I want to go camping or study? Work on the kids' homework? Or mine? A happy hubby or grumpy, ignored one? I am finding that prenursing (I am on waitlists) is not very different and I don't expect nursing to be that much different than what I have already done with midwifery. But clearly, there have been times in our family life and my time as a mom, when I could not fit another thing in and didn't feel like I was doing anything well. Though I know nothing about your situation, what I have learned in my 25 year career of being a mom, is that it is not "all or nothing." Sometimes it is about chunks of life! And maybe it isn't true for everyone, but what I am learning about life in general is that more often then not - there is time later! Few things in life are "now or never." It will still be there. There will be schools and hospitals and the need for nurses if you wait a couple years.
When or if the time comes that you really want it (whatever IT is) you will do what you have to do to get there. It is going to take work no matter what. You just have to ask if in the scheme of things, will a year or two or 5 or 10 really make a difference in your ultimate goal?
Maybe next time, try just one class that interests you. It gets easier - promise.
I am a mom with a fulltime job and teenagers ! You have to home for them too !
Isn't that the truth? I think sometimes teenagers need parents around more than little ones. Because they become so capable so quickly, it is easy to think they don't need us so much, but I think sometimes they need more. Or at least you have to be around and ready to drop everything when they decide they are ready for you!
Like Hotflashn said, babies are babies for only so long. Nursing school will always be there. Whats more important to you?
I am a stay at home mom to a 5 & nearly 2 yr old and I think I'm starting my pre-req's in the fall. If I stick with my "plan" I'll enter ns when my younger one is in full-day first grade. But we'll see where life takes me. If my kids need me more, then more of me they shall have. Being the best mom I can is the most important thing to me right now. Everything else can wait, if need be.
It can be done but it does take work & discipline. I have 2 kids ages 7 & 16 months. I've taken online classes for a few years now & even had my youngest in the middle of the semester. What I have found works best for me is anytime there is a nap I am studying. I make sure to get my kids to bed at a decent hour, they are usually down between 8-9 at night so anytime after that I've told everyone is my study time so just leave me alone. You can do it but it will definitely take work.
I'm doing it, but getting VERY little sleep right now. My two are 2.5 and 4.5 years old. I don't think I could have done it when my youngest was 8 mo because she was a reflux baby and very high needs.
I have been able to complete 6 prereqs since May by taking evening/weekend classes and mostly studying at night after the kiddos are in bed. I also fit it in during nap-time (2 yr old naps & my 4.5 yr old watches PBS).
I have a 4.0 after taking CHM, A&P I & II, Life PSY, Gen BIO and computers... and I just learned in Life PSY that my preschooler is "below average" for # of hrs of TV/weeks, so I don't beat myself up when I turn it on so I can get some work done. :)
Yes, time with them is short, but this is something I want to do to be able to provide more for them in the future. I am hoping to do a 16 month 2nd BSN program starting Jan 2009. 16 months of full-time study in order to provide a lifetime better quality of living for my whole family. For me, it's worth it.
Are you sure you didn't give up too soon? It's going to take some time to get a routine in place. I know you didn't want to fall behind but I think it might take longer than a week to get the hang of it. Can you study in the evenings? One thing that I would try to do in order to prepare for next semester is get a solid routine in place before the semester starts. Best of luck. I know how hard it is with kids but you can do it.
I've got a bunch of kids and always had a baby in my arms as I studied; from pre-reqs to nursing school. It is doable, but I found I had to make some tough decisions.
My husband, too, worked long hours and once I was in NS, I worked 2 twelves as a CNA then a LPN.
I had to basically cut out everything else in my life but family and school. I went to church, but didn't do a lot of extra stuff there. People were pretty understanding, but if they weren't, I let it roll off my back. I took only one pre-req class at a time. It took me years to get through, but I made it!
I relied pretty heavily on my parents (fortunately, they lived close by). They were very willing to let me drop the kids off and go back to my quiet house to study. We had a standing date for each of my Anatomy tests, LOL.
My husband would take the kids out (all except for whoever was nursing at the time) for a few hours on Saturday mornings and that helped tremendously. I joke that I got through NS by studying in 5 minute increments, but it kind of is true. My books were always within reach and even if I could only read a paragraph at a time, it all added up.
If this is something you want to pursue at this time--and you don't have to, kids grow fast and this just might not be the best time for you--sharpen your focus. Ignore the messy house, give in to fast food and use caller id. Practice saying no, "I'd love to, but with the kids and being in school right now, I just can't." Truly, those who want the best for you will understand.
Im definately with ya. My girls are 4,3, and 1. I think that the major problem is the guilt that we feel for devoting time to something we want because it takes away from the kids. But ya know what, they will live. There are things you can do but its definately hard. I stay up at night after their in bed and study. I also find that they are a little quieter in the mornings after breakfast so I utilize that time. Also, ear plugs are a wonderful thing. Personally I let mine watch TV more than is recommended. Whoever said that letting kids watch TV is a horrible thing was never a nursing student with 3 small children. Also, if you just devote maybe a half hour a day or something with your kids doing something that they love to do then they really wont think twice about all the time spent studying. So just stay positive and take whatever suggestions you feel might be helpful. You can do it!!
I do not know how I am going to balance this? My children are 3 1/2 and 8 months old.
I registered for a online Math & online Humanities class for Spring 2008. One week into the semester I have already had to drop my courses - I have no time to read / study or do assignments! Everytime I would sit down to do some homework, I was interrupted. Of course my children come first - but I was hoping to have a few hours to myself during the day to study. My husband is gone most of the day so that is not an option. I work 12 hour shifts on the weekends. At this time online is the only way. Should I wait until I can actually attend on campus so that I have that time just for me?
Advice needed, I may try this again in Summer or Fall 2008
How do you do it with little ones?
I am also a mother to two little ones 5 yr. old in school though and my 4 yr. old who I will put in pre-school next year and I am going to school online right now and have been for almost a year for my AAHA degree in Health Administration but I am also on my local CC LVN wait list-#85 will hopefully start this Fall 2008 but if not for sure Fall 2009!!! It's not easy and sometimes I wait until they are both asleep at night or if I am real lucky they take a nap. Ask your husband if he would help when he gets home for just of few hours my husband helps me when I ask, yes he complains sometimes but he also knows how much this means to me. I hope this helps you and I wish you the best, keep us posted ok!!!
Unfortunately, I have NO advice specific to your question of doing online college, but what I'm trying to do at the moment, is listen to podcasts (iTunes U) to get started on my studies. Next year I hope to attend a CNA evening program, get a better job, and then prepare for nursing school. I can't do it this year (my husband's planning a return to night school in two months, and my little one was just prov dx'd with ASD), so I'm hoping to use my time 'creatively' this year to listen to podcasts so I don't have to learn everything at once.
Listening on an iPod, I can listen "wherever" -- taking notes is a challenge. My children are 9yo and almost 3yo, and my 3yo is my special needs kid, but my 9yo is my high-energy sensory kid. I also work freelance from home, so with home/job/kids/husband, something is always going on, and 'quiet time' does not exist here.
I sympathize with your situation ....... do you have extended family who could help? A local reliable teenager who could help with babysitting? A group of other mom students that maybe you could each take an hour to watch each other's kids while each of you studies?
Otherwise ... if you can put school off until another time when you might have more options, and maybe listen to podcasts or start your studies gradually on your own -- so it's not 'all at once' and not in the pressure cooker of college just yet. (That's the road I am taking, but it's not for everyone.)
OMG!!! I am doing the same thing:yeah::rcgtku::chrs:!!! I will enter my local CC CNA program this Summer 2008 and then go onto the LVN program at my CC hopefully this Fall 2008 if not for sure Fall 2009!!! I wish you the best!!!
moosiesmom
87 Posts
Podcasts sound like an excellent idea ? How/where do you get them ? Is there a site that you download the information ? I am a mom with a fulltime job and teenagers ! You have to home for them too !
Thanks !