Kids, Nursing School, Household, Work???

bluestorm · Jun 23, 2013

A store bought frozen lasagna and bagged salad takes just a few min of prep and then you can spend quality time while its cooking. How about sandwiches and fruit for dinner eaten outside picnic style?

douxmusique · Jun 23, 2013

Take the pressure off yourself. Bath, books, and bedtime are an incredibly easy way to squeeze in time with the kids. My older ones even love to be read to for 10 minutes. When I grocery shop I premake about 14 frozen meals in ziplock bags and they go in the crockpot takes me about an hour after coming home from the store and I normally put it with rice or pasta. I dont fold laundry like any decent person does- and my 11 year old has been doing her own laundry for a few years now. It is what it is.

As for studying I used to prefer to study completely alone but ive found a studt buddy and I find myself being more committed to studying now. Two hours a day for patho is enough and most effective for me but you might need 3-4 hrs a day. I also study best at night after the kids are in bed. They are in their rooms at 8, period. If they read I dknt care as long as they're not bugging me....

Its a balancing act, you will figure it out.

donk · Jun 23, 2013

The crock pot is a life saver in my house. We also do out homework together at the table after dinner. Sundays is a no study day in my house (minus the week before exams or tests) and we spend that day as a family. I use my evenings to study when the kids go to bed and between classes at school. I make cue cards and take them to the arena for hockey practices, or the Soccer field or swimming lessons. It's doable, it just requires commitment and organization. I do feel guilty sometimes but my husband is super supportive and I know that in the end this is for the betterment of our family.

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2013

My first 2 semesters my hubby was a huge help. He did most of the cooking and cleaning. I was focused on surviving nursing school. 3rd semester I was faced with being a single (while still married) mom. We ate a lot of frozen dinners or fast food. My house was not that clean. not CPS worthy, but not clean. I did not study nearly as much as I needed too. But my kids were fed, they had clean clothes and were happy, so that's all that mattered. My last semester my hubby took the kids to TN, so I could focus on the hardest semester and NCLEX without distraction. My house still wasn't that clean and I still ate a lot of frozen food and fast food :/ BUT, I devoted a lot more time to my studies and passed nursing school and NCLEX! You just have to find the balance. i studied at night when the kids went to bed. They were in bed at 8, so I had a few hours to study. I had a sitter watch the kids so I could study with my study group every once in a while. You just have to find what works for you and stick with it!

hardworkinmama · Jun 23, 2013

Crock pot, meal plan, & prioritize. Food is important, but dusting isn't in my opinion. I lowered my standards a lot. You can do it! Just don't procrastinate! That's what will get you in trouble!

peachshan, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2013

I am worried how I am going to handle working full time then going to class at night( the program is part time). I guess I will have to start planning meals. I am worried about the time away from my husband and son.

jescalynn, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2013

Biggest thing I'm leaning so far is to know when to ask for help, I have given a lot more tasks to my children (6&8) and husband. I still feel very overwhelmed, but I think that's part of the deal, I just keep reminding myself it will all be worth it in the end!

JasmDasm · Jun 23, 2013

The frozen lasagna with a salad sounds good. So do the frozen meals in ziplocs souund great too. What kind of meals still taste good after being frozen?

Its a little hard to get my toddler in bed by 8 tho, but bath, book and bed for them is a great idea to show love. ♡

jescalynn, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2013

If you google freezer meals you come up with a lot, tons of stuff can be frozen to enjoy later, on just a quick google search I found this site;

50 Freezer Meals in a Day

I have two weeks between summer school and my next semester, and since my husband and I both will be in school full time (and hes working) I am going to be doing a lot of these to stock up!

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2013

First thing that I had to accept when I started nursing school was "something has to give". You have to accept that you can not live the life you lived before. For me that meant I vacuumed 3 times a week instead of 5, wiped down the bathroom every other day instead of a complete clean daily, more sandwiches for dinner, and I might miss a school (play, concert, soccer game etc.). I DEFINITELY learned that 6 hours a sleep was more reasonable than 8.

This won't be forever, just everyone needs to sacrifice to make it happen.

douxmusique · Jun 23, 2013

Chicken meals freeze well, lasagna freezes well. You can marinate beef tips/stew meat, roasts, pork chops anything really for the crockpot. If your going ti be at work all day and school all niggt its my opinion that your hubby can step up and make tacos or hamburger helper at the very least. It takes less than 20 mins.

This is something I had to learn to let go of. I have been the sole caretaker our entire marriage, 10 yrs so far, while hes worked odd hours and deployed. Its always been my job and joy but now my job is school and if I cant handle dinner he must step up.

I also sometimes have to just go with chicken nuggets and mac. The meals I fall back on literally make me feel like the worst parent on the planet because I generally work to make evedything from scratch but that is just not possible right now.

Ask for help and really..... dont be too hard on yourself. Your kiddos will always love you even if fhey ea th cereal for dinner once or twice.