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As a student and a mother, how in the world to you make it through?

I am 33 years old, married to a wonderful man(Railroad engineer who is on call 24/7) and I have three wonderful children (two of which are under 4 yrs old). It is so hard for us to have a normal life much less a normal life while I attend school.

I just found out that one of our clinical days, I will have to be there at 6:45 AM....... I do not remember the last time I had to be up that early in the morning. It will be hard to depend on my husband to be home and we do not have any family near by to help out either. Anybody else in this kind of situation??? How did you get by with the children? Did you have neighbors, friends or sitters to assist in these situations?

I have been in the area for 3 years and have just now felt like I could leave the kids with a friend that lives nearby but I really do not know about getting the kids up before 6 am to get them somewhere to stay while I do clinicals. It sounds like it is going to be a rough semester.....

Any advice please......... I welcome any and every thought...

Lynda :confused:

I have one savior of a neighbor,she is the one who takes my youngest when i have to get to class early . I have a 9 and 12 year old. See if you can get a neighbor to help you out and then return the favor in some way. She takes my youngest daughter in the morning and I pick up the kids after school.

See if you can ask the neighbor you trust. Do you go to church? Maybe there is a good connection thru them.

good luck! :) You can do it.!

thanks for the responses... I am going to scan our parish bulletin board and see what I can find there..

Lynda

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

i was having the same problem with earlier than anticipated clinical days with 6:30am being our on-site time.

i too thought about a church member and will see how it goes since i don't like interfering with others schedule, but, sometimes it is deemed necessary.

if i can make it through this semester with morning transportation for my children [i can pick them up from school], the summer session early arrival at the site will be alright since school will be out.

let us know how it goes.

Hi there!

I'm new here...I am a student nurse...president of the Nursing Club....writer on the school paper....have a per diem job in a hospital (Maternity) as a student nurse .... 34 yrs old...good husband....12year old son whom i homeschool!!!!

AND I have somehow managed to get thru the last 2 1/2 years...if you are determined you can do anything....

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

I have made it thru by having a wonderful supportive family and friends.....if you believe you can do it, you can!

Good luck!

Specializes in Float Pool, ICU/CCU, Med/Surg, Onc, Tele.

That's what jammies are for, lol. I got through school and work when my kids were little by bundling them up in jammies & blanket, tossing 'em in the car (buckled of course), and dropping them at the sitters still 85% asleep. After the first day they were used to the routine and just went right back to sleep (if they ever woke up) when they got there.

You just do what you have to do to get through. Someday they'll understand. There's got to be a daycare or neighbor or church person around within a few miles of you. If not by your home then try for one near your school or job. I preferred having my kids close to where I'd be all day than close to home, in case of emergencies.

Good luck!

I have 4 kids two in school, two still home, and then one on the way. My husband has to leave for work at 5:30am so he is not an option for early mornings. I have worked out daycare with my sister. I am paying her, but less than I would have to anywhere else. My husband is also taking night classes as well so we are constantly juggling. I have learned to be more efficient. I agree with NurseWeasel about the jammies and daycare. I am sure there is something daycare or otherwise. I know for me it was a big obstacle finding someone to help because with my two oldest needing to get to school on time I needed something besides a regular daycaree. Thankfully my sister and I worked something out. I am sure you can do it. Just a lot more juggling with small children.

Specializes in Adult Med-Surg, Rehab, and Ambulatory Care.

I was frantic about childcare for a looong time and just had the solution fall into my lap, so to speak. The wife of a guy my husband works with homeschools her children, and she graciously offerred to watch my rugrats for me while I go to school. I drop my 3 children off at her house. On clinical day she just has the baby from 7am - 3pm (that's the day that is killing me; leaving the baby is HARD. The other 2 are in school). Lecture and Lab days she only has them for an hour and a half after school until hubby gets home from work to pick them up.

I guess I'm kind of lucky in that aspect of things. I work till 7a, so hubby is home with them through the night. After he leaves in the AM, my 17y/o daughter is still here.

The only problem we have is me getting home in time so our son can walk the 2 youngest daughters to the bus stop, without taking the 5y/o grandson...but we seem to have that partially solved. I hurry and get done at 7am, rush home, pick the girls up, thake them to the bus stop and get them on the bus, then come home, then my 14 y/o leaves for school. That way, the 5y/o doesn't have to go out in the cold.

I think I'm gonna have to wait till the grandbaby is in 1st grade before I can go on for my RN. I don't know anyone (or really trust anyone) to have him that early and for part of the day. (He gets on the bus at 11:30a.)

Hugs to ya Loubell! Hope you find a solution! :)

Thanks again everyone for the replies... I know that something will turn up. I just hate worrying about it... I will update on this one..

Lynda

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