Going to school while your kids are involved in lots of activites

keepmovingrn · Sep 22, 2011

Hey I feel your pain. My son had cub scouts and soccer but I make a decision to have him sit out scouts a year because his troop is so active and being a single mom working full time and going to school tended to be a bit much for me. I just found out this month that I was accepted into the Spring semester LPN to RN bridge program so I found a activity that was on Sundays (Flag football) that works better for us. Sometimes we as parents have to do what we have to do to make certain things work for our kids.

I felt really bad about taking him out of cub scouts this year but its a decision that will be best for both my son and I in the long run because I will have my RN to better support us.

Let me add that even still I have my notes studying at flag football every Sunday while he's playing!

chulada77, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Sep 22, 2011

OK, I just found out I was accepted into an accelerated track (16 month) BSN program. While I'm very happy and excited to start, the kid's schedules have me a little freaked out. I have a 7yr old son who is very active in sports. Basketball, football and baseball. My daughter (6yrs) is involved in cheer, gymnastics and girl scouts. I also have a 1yr old. My question is to those who have young children in lots of activites. How did you make it work? Did they have to give up some of their activities so that you were not running around all over the place in the evening. Did you study in the car and wait for them? I'm scared I wont have time to study. I have a supportive husband, but already with both of us we are still going all over the place all week with the kids. Some nights we dont even get home untill 9:00!!! If we have to give some sports up then that is what we will do. I just wanted to hear from others that might have been in this situation.
Thanks!!!

I'm that mom too!! My kids are 11 and 7 while I went through school. The key: EARPLUGS. I would take my kids to their activities including karate, soccer, gymnastics and would stick the earplugs in and study my butt off. My other secret was 4-5am wake-up; I'm normally a morning gal so I could get several hours of undisturbed studying in while my angels were sleeping.

I studied in church, in Drs offices, at the dentist, on the treadmill, on the toilet, sitting at stoplights............basically every static minute of the day. My accelerated program was self paced and I finished in 10 months. It's doable and you can do it!! Moms have amazing multi-tasking skills already so just add nursing school to the list! :yeah:

Cakemomma4 · Sep 23, 2011

Thanks for your responses. Im glad to hear that others had ways of dealing with it all. I like the earplugs thing. I think I would not be so freaked out about it but because of the 1 year old it will be hard to study during the actual activities. Oh well, my husband says it will all work out and we will do what we will have to do. Even if it means slowing down for a year and a half. I know that I already feel like the queen of multitasking. Getting all my prereqs this year with a new baby was hard but I got through it. Pretty proud of that! Thanks again for your responses.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 23, 2011

When I was about 9 years old, my parents sat me and my siblings down and explained that Dad was going quit his job and get some more education. It would take approximately 1 year and we would have to make some financial sacrifices during that year to make it work. It would also mean that he would have to have to live away from home for that year, but that he would come back to see us once or twice per month. In the long run, it would be good for the family.

They didn't "ask our permission" but they did inform us in advance and explain their decision. We kids accepted it. We trusted them. So, I guess I am suggesting that you trust your kids to handle it. Talk to them, reassure them that you love them. Even if you won't be as available to be directly involved in as much of their stuff -- you will make yourself available for the most important things.

Give your kids a chance to learn and grow a little more independent through this experience -- and be proud of their mom for getting more education. Share your triumphs, celebrate your on-going achievements and show them by example how to work hard to succeed.

In the end, my Dad ended up not going back for more training. My mom accidentally got pregnant and that put an end to that plan. But we were prepared to do it and would have survived it.

Good luck to you.