Do you have children?

Chapis · Jul 28, 2010

hello,

i have a three year old son and i will be going to my second semester of my adn program.

some pre-reqs are time consuming. at first i used to feel 'bad' for not spending as much time with him or playing with him when i knew i had to study, now, i really don't feel bad at all. i am doing this sacrifice and working hard to offer my son a better future. he's 3, and won't remember when mommy didn't play with him. bottom line is-you're doing this for you and your family, to give them a better way of life and hopefully a brighter future.

you can take one day, when its just about your kids and your husband. the key is to have time for them, you may not have time during your school days, but on the weekends you will be able to be free or at least you won't have to go to class.

in reality-you'll adapt your school life into your family life and you'll discover ways of doing things or ways of spendig time with them. i think its until you're in the program to see how 'hectic', 'busy' ns will be that you will accomodate quality time for you and your family. you'll be fine, others have done it, some of us are doing it, and future parents will do it. we all have different ways of handling our school load vs family time. don't worry, you'll figure yours out!

just know that all this you're doing with them, and all the time not spent with them is for them.

good luck! (sorry so long)

astarr33 · Jul 28, 2010

I began NS at the age of 34. I'm 36 now and in my final year. I have 3 children. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that it is easy, because it isn't. However, you and your family will adjust. At my school, we have 1 day in class for lecture (4 hrs), then we have a day or two in lab (2 hrs), and then 2 days of clinicals (8 hr shifts/day). On top of that, plan to spend at minimum 4 hrs per day studying, reading your text and lecture notes, and working on care plans and other assignments. There will be days that you will wonder just what you have gotten yourself into, and there will be days that you cannot wait to get to class/lab/clinical. For me, it is more practical to do the harder studying and paper writing and such after hubby and kids have gone to bed and in the early morning hours before they awaken. With you having two little ones, it might work better for you to do things during nap time and after they have been put to bed for the night. Either way, you seem to be very determined, and that determination will see you through a great deal. Never be afraid to ask for help. Whether it be from family or friends when you need the babies watched so you can "study just one more chapter", or from fellow classmates and/or instructors when you need help clarifying something. I wish you the very best of luck!!

Wan2BRN · Jul 28, 2010

Thank you so much for both your responses. I want to continue this path and do it for my kids and as quickly as possible, but I know the time with my babies is very important and I will never get it back. It will all work out, I am sure.

my4helpers · Jul 28, 2010

I started last fall of 2009 with my prereqs and I have 4 children ages 10, 7, 4, 1. The first semester was probably the hardest because the baby was almost 1 when I first started and was still waking up at night. I pretty much do no school work during the day simply because if I get distracted, I have a hard time focusing again. I put the kids to bed between 8:30-9:00 during the school year and then I study from 9:30 until 1:00am or whenever I get done. I NEED my sleep, but I am adjusting. Now with my kids being another year older: 11, 8, 5, 2 (will be 3 in Sept.) and child #3 will be starting school this year, it's getting a little easier. I am just taking it day and day and hoping for the best! :lol2: One other thing that helps, is that I do not have to work. If I did, then it would be another story! :eek: Last school year I was able to sleep in until 7:30, but with my oldest going into junior high this year, I will have to get up at 6:00am. Hopefully I will be able to get into bed way before 2:00am unlike last year.

Calinurse4 · Jul 28, 2010

i started my pre-reqs in january 2007 at the age of 28 and will be starting the rn program in 2 weeks :) yes, it took me longer than average to complete my pre-reqs, but i was starting from square one. i had to also take all the basics: history, math, political science, etc. in addition to all the sciences. my children are now 5, 7, 9, and 10; my youngest was 2 when i started.

it hasn't really been all that difficult, but it helps that i have family support, i'm organized, and i have paced myself. each semester has been different; sometimes i was only taking 1 class, sometimes 4. you just have to take it one day at a time...and before you know it, you'll be done!! good luck to you :)

knittingmonster · Jul 28, 2010

I have three children, 7, 5, and almost 2. When I started pre-reqs, I only had two. I was a sahm and took classes at night. My one trick to get in study time was to study with my kids. I would teach them what I was learning on their level. I had to understand to be able to explain it to them. Nap time/tv time were also good places to get in studying.

I just finished my second semester and have lived to tell that tale. Seriously, it is do-able. My kids do go to daycare so I use days off to study while I leave them there for a while. I also work at night after they go to bed. I don't always spend the time with them that I'd like, but we find time for family stuff. It's all about time management--a good skill for nursing anyways!

GeneralJinjur · Jul 28, 2010

I have 3 kids and it does take organization and juggling. However, having kids is one of the best stress relievers for nursing school. They are great for taking my mind off school and always up for a tickle fest or walk around the block to unwind. So, it's not all bad and it is doable.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2010

I have 4 kids. It hasn't been too bad at all. The hardest part is when my husband works out of town for 5 months because than I don't have anyone to help with picking them up and running errands and stuff. But that has been the hardest part. I started my Pre Reqs when I just had 3. By the time I started nursing school (finished my first year in May) I had 4.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2010

I have 2 kids...ages 6 1/2 and 3 1/2. What has helped me is making a schedule for housework that my husband can help with....that way he knows what needs to be done. He also takes them if he knows I have to study and my mother in-law takes them for a few hours too. That's the best thing you can do is get help when you can. It's tough but can be done. Good luck!!

JBGC4 · Jul 29, 2010

Yes. I have two children both under the age 5 and under. Some women can do it all. I'm not one of them, although I wish I was!!! I have to pick and choose the chores that get done at the house. My very supportive husband works many hours, most of them at night, so house work for him is a little out of the question. I don't complain as long as he keeps the kids out of my hair when he is home and I need to study. I hate how my house feels but keep certain areas clean, like the kitchen and bathrooms. I don't cook the way I used to. We eat frozen meals and take out. These things do bother me, don't get me wrong, but for me, any extra time I do have outside of school I put towards my family quality fun. Getting and education and spending time w/ my family are priorities. The house can wait but school can not. The house will still be here, but someday my kids will be living their own lives. Right now, they are all mine.

You can get through this. The majority of people in my program are parents. We tend to get better grades than the ones who are not. Why? I figure b/c we aren't trying to keep social lives in the schedule, lol!

Suethestudent · Jul 29, 2010

I agree wholeheartedly with JBGC4 above, in that the household chores can be cut down/let go and the world will not stop turning. My house permanently looks like it has been raided by the drug squad, but I don't care as long as I am holding up my GPA.

If you can cook meals in large batches in advance, it removes the guilt/cost of takeout and that is an important consideration.I don't care if my kids rooms have huge dust bunnies and overflowing laundry hampers but I refuse to have them eat cereal for dinner. Try to plan ahead and if you are making a meal, make enough to freeze at least 2 extra meals. It's no additional effort and you will have a lovely supply of frozen dinners for when time is tight.

Best of luck...kids are a great motivator and you are a super example for them as well!

ps....I have 5