Did Anyone Go To Nursing School While Raising Kids?

Nurse GOODNIGHT · Dec 16, 2005

Isn't the time (as someone stated above) you get to yourself when you are at your job and at school? I'm not trying to demean, just asking a question. See my post in "some advice needed" thread. I just agree to disagree as I have seen the marginalizing of kids with the specious arguement they will learn, respect etc. from me doing for me. It may help materially but what about their wants, needs etc. and I'm not talking about things. If most people's spouse said I am taking up a hobby/football/job/ etc and I will be here in body only(yeah, yeah sure honey I can hear you, I am giving you my undivided attn while I'm watchin the game) or I will makeup for 51 weeks of this by taking you on a 1 week really good vacation--I think most people would not be very happy or married for long. As one poster said, I reserve the weekends for my kids....What about the other time weekends =2496 hours, weekdays=6,240 hours. Just wondering.

As in the other thread, everyones so cool, it's nice to discuss. Again, I am just stating my opinion that I wanna do the raising, but I know I am in the minority these days.

Again, thanks to all for coolness.

StuNurseUP · Dec 16, 2005

Nurse Goodnight, I said that I use school as a 50 hour work week. ( school MWF and Study T and TH)I see my children in the mornings and evenings(before and after school). My point is to get all your work done (studying)during the week so that you have the weekend just for family time. If I was not in school i would be at work the same amount of time instead. My children aren't bieng cheated. As a recent divorcee, I am trying to make a better life for my children by going back to school and finishing my degree. With appropriate time managment and support, the chilins can get the time and positive attention they deserve.:chuckle

mstigerlily · Dec 16, 2005

This is the same argument in the SAHM vs working mom argument. I'm sure a large chunk of the people here are working parents - going to school is a "job" just like working as a nurse is a job. My husband and my mother are very active in taking care of my children when I am not available. And when I am available I am THERE. If I stayed home with kids 24/7 I would go mad. But that's just me. Now I work three 12s (nights 7-7:30am) three times a week and it works out great, I sleep when they are in school and I feel like I have plenty of time with them. Some day I hope to work 2 12s a week and that will be even better. Yes, sometimes I do work weekends and holidays sometimes but that means I have more time off during the week that week to help with homework, do dinner/bedtime, take them to school, etc. Plus, as I said my husband is there on the weekend. Plus, I am actually physically still THERE on the weekend - just sleeping in my room :)

BTW, I managed to breastfeed my two kids well past a year all through nursing school. Many nights during/after a 2am feeding I would hit the books and read an hour or two during the dark/quiet night. That was my favorite time to study. Then when baby stirred again, we'd feed again and I'd conk back out.

Isn't the time (as someone stated above) you get to yourself when you are at your job and at school? I'm not trying to demean, just asking a question. See my post in "some advice needed" thread. I just agree to disagree as I have seen the marginalizing of kids with the specious arguement they will learn, respect etc. from me doing for me. It may help materially but what about their wants, needs etc. and I'm not talking about things. If most people's spouse said I am taking up a hobby/football/job/ etc and I will be here in body only(yeah, yeah sure honey I can hear you, I am giving you my undivided attn while I'm watchin the game) or I will makeup for 51 weeks of this by taking you on a 1 week really good vacation--I think most people would not be very happy or married for long. As one poster said, I reserve the weekends for my kids....What about the other time weekends =2496 hours, weekdays=6,240 hours. Just wondering.
As in the other thread, everyones so cool, it's nice to discuss. Again, I am just stating my opinion that I wanna do the raising, but I know I am in the minority these days.
Again, thanks to all for coolness.

RoxanRN · Dec 16, 2005

Like a few others here, I've done it twice, but with a twist. 13 years ago, I found out I was pregnant 6 weeks into paramedic school. I delivered half way through my field internship. I was released to return to internship after 2 weeks. She was an easy-going baby, never cried unless she was hungry or her diaper was wet. I was lucky to find a wonderful sitter for her (DH also worked a full time job).

When she was 8 years old, I returned to school for my RN. 3 weeks into school, I discover I'm pregnant with #2. I continued through school, working a full time job and a part time job. :eek: I delivered in the middle of 2nd semester. I only missed 1 lecture day and 2 clinical days (out of school for 1 week, off work for 6). I was also very lucky to find a wonderful sitter for her at such a young age. Just like her sister, she was very easy-going.

My family doesn't know what it is like for mom and dad to work a regular 8-5 job cause we never have (DH is a radio News Director)! And staying at home for any length of time drives me crazy. DH is working toward having a home business and thus be a SAHF. We have time as a family most every afternoon/evening and most weekends. The oldest and Dad have 'Daddy Dates' about once a month. The youngest and I have time together during the day most days (when I'm not sleeping after a night shift).

During school, folks thought I was crazy. I did what I had to do to make it through school and keep money coming in at the same time. It is do-able, but it's also hard work.

PS..... The girls are now 12 (7th grade) and 3 (very independent!) and will brag to anyone who will listen that their mom is a Nurse!

KikiRN06 · Dec 16, 2005

I started school 3 years ago when my kids were 9,6, and 3 and I am getting pinned tonight so it can be done!!! The best advice that I can give you is don't sweat the small stuff. Laundry and dishes can always wait another day. I won't say that it was easy but it was something that I needed to do. We all had to make sacrifices but I think that they were well worth it. We lived out of a lot of laundry baskets and ate off of a lot of paper plates but the kids didn't seem to mind too much.

Q. · Dec 16, 2005

I'm currently in graduate school for my MSN and I have 7 month old twins. I also work full time.

It takes juggling and sacrifice, but it can be done. Like the PP I reserve the weekends for family; I study and do other things once the kids are in bed for the night (they go to bed at 7pm)

selulion · Dec 16, 2005

Thanks to all who replied! Your words are very encouraging. I feel like it is possible since so many out there have succeeded! Congrats to all mommy nurses out there.

Harleygirl · Dec 16, 2005

Yes, it can be done.

I went back to school when my kids were teenagers and I have an awesome husband that took care of the home front when I was in school.

I also worked full time as an LPN on evening shift through school. By the grace of God I am an RN.

Harleygirl

luvmy2angels · Dec 16, 2005

I have 2 children (3 if you count my husband :chuckle ). They are 7 and 3 and I will be finished with my LPN in Feb !!! It has been pretty hard on my daughter, since she is in school during the day and I go to school in the evening I only see her for about an hour in the morning and maybe a half hour at night when I get home if she is still awake. It hasn't phased my 3 year old son much, but they he is with me during the day. My husband gets home when I leave for school and takes care of them in the evening, it has allowed them to get a lot closer and form a very strong bond that I don't know would have happened otherwise.

We are ALL looking forward to Feb when I will be done. I do plan on going on to get my RN but i will definaltey be doing a long distance program where I can study at home. Good luck to ya!! It is hard, but well worth it!!

L&D_2b · Dec 16, 2005

My kids are 10, 6, 3 and soon to be *newbie* in April. I'm taking a part time evening/weekend program to be an LPN. I didn't want to leave my kids full time, so now I only go 3 nights a week from 6 to 9 pm and every other weekend. It's easier on my family and I'll still get that LPN license, it's just going to take me two years to do it.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 16, 2005

I did when my son was ages 2-5 and no mom or family nearby to help. (my dh is military and was gone for 4 months during school). You have got to develop a good support system and reliable friends to help out or you can't do it. It's extraordinarily hard otherwise, if not impossible. I had the fortune of good friends to help me or I would have never made it, esp when clinicals from 6a.m. to 6 pm were going on.

admorn03 · Dec 16, 2005

I started the nursing program when my youngest was 6 weeks old and my oldest was 5 years old. Talk about the greastest guilt of all times. My baby was place in to a really great childcare center luckily right up the road from the college. After class ended and prior to going to work I went to the daycare center breastfeed, sang and rocked my baby to sleep. luckily this was around 1130/Noon nap time at the center. So for me this worked out great. Last and true word of advise just do the best you can and spend as much time with them as you can no matter how small the time is. I cannot say don't feel guilty, because we are mothers that is waht we do. But really don't because remember what you are doing is going to benefit not only you but them as well.

GOOD LUCK> PM ME ANYTIME