Everyone, I am at my wits end and need help!! I swear I can feel the threads unravelling on my rope. I am a PT pre-nursing student, married, work FT, and have 4 yo daughter. My FT job, I work from 8-430pm, pick up daughter and come home. Hubby works 2nd shift 3-11. Problem is, HOW do I get my daughter to understand I need to study. The evening is hectic with dinner and bath time. I always try to get some story time in there too. It never fails when I think I might get some study time in earlier in the evening, winds up being an ordeal! I get mad because no matter how much I try to impress upon my daughter that I need to be left along for a little bit, she just cannot do it. I am so tired of trying to cram my study time in from 9 to 11pm. After hubby comes home, no study time there either.
I swear it's days like these that I question if I will even be able to make it through clinicals. I am down to 2 pre-reqs left, micro and advanced physio. I found them at times I can fit in my schedule, but now I cannot find a sitter to watch her. AAUUUUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!! :angryfire :angryfire
Any advice, or help? Am I being selfish? A bad mommy? I think I will go to the tub for a bit and cry (which of course, daughter will be knocking on the door the whole time)
I started nursing school with a 2 month old and a 2 year old, babysat 6 kids under 2 part time/different days and worked full time. The only way I could study was to get up early in the morning-3 or 4am to study. Hard life but it worked for me.
Okay well I am pregnant with my first child, but I have a lot of experience with toddlers. When do you go to school? If you can prepare the next nights dinner the day before, that way when you get home, you can just reheat it and let your daughter eat, give her a few minutes of play time to tire her out, and when you get ready to study put her to bed. If that doesn't work you can try talking to her, eventhough I doubt it will work. You can also try giving her things to occupy her time. As for someone to watch her, have you ever thought of daycare. That is what I am doing, it is an in home daycare, that is open for 24 hours, the rate is $70 per week, but since I only need someone to watch him while I am in school (2 days a week). I will just pay the drop in rate, which is $10 per day. So as you can see, it only comes out to $20 a week. And it is great because she is open for 24 hours, I can leave the baby there not only while I am in class, but also when I am at home so that I have some time to myself to study.
Everyone, I am at my wits end and need help!! I swear I can feel the threads unravelling on my rope. I am a PT pre-nursing student, married, work FT, and have 4 yo daughter. My FT job, I work from 8-430pm, pick up daughter and come home. Hubby works 2nd shift 3-11. Problem is, HOW do I get my daughter to understand I need to study. The evening is hectic with dinner and bath time. I always try to get some story time in there too. It never fails when I think I might get some study time in earlier in the evening, winds up being an ordeal! I get mad because no matter how much I try to impress upon my daughter that I need to be left along for a little bit, she just cannot do it. I am so tired of trying to cram my study time in from 9 to 11pm. After hubby comes home, no study time there either.
I swear it's days like these that I question if I will even be able to make it through clinicals. I am down to 2 pre-reqs left, micro and advanced physio. I found them at times I can fit in my schedule, but now I cannot find a sitter to watch her. AAUUUUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!! :angryfire :angryfire
Any advice, or help? Am I being selfish? A bad mommy? I think I will go to the tub for a bit and cry (which of course, daughter will be knocking on the door the whole time)
Nursing school is hard it takes alot of time. I have a 3 and 2 year old. The way I found time to study is let the house go. Really pick up what you have to but prioritize what "really" has to be done. Try putting a movie on for your youngster and tell em it's quite time, mommy has to study. You are not being a bad mom. You will and your family will have to make alot ALOT of sacrifices but they are worth it. It's not like you're doing this for yourself. If you're like most people you want a better life for them. They will get over it.
Hey girl - hang in there! Everyone has pretty much said what I wanted to say, but below are some really good movies that will totally intrance your little girl. My daughter leaves me COMPLETELY alone when I put these in the DVD player.
I too feel your pain. I work, attend class full time, and have four kids to boot. Between football, figure skating, gymnastics and a host of other activities it is hard to find study time. I have found it helpful with my toddlers to let them "study" with me. We search the kitchen for fun stuff like noodles, cheerios, yarn, and glue sticks and then they sit and do their thing while i do mine. I change up the items and hide them in different drawers and cabinets around the kitchen to keep them interested. For the days I really need to study, like test days I wear a special hat. When I wear it they know that if they play quietly until I take it off they will get some extra special fun time with me. It took a few times for them to get that but now it is like a game for them, they look forward to our fun time when I take it off. I know it sounds silly, but whatever works.
HA! I am right there with ya. I take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese, give them mor more than $5 of tokents and I can study right there at CEC. We usually go early in the day before it get crowded. I may buy a pop and just sit there and study while they play. Even though they have someone standing at the door, I still sit within sight of the door to make sure things are okay.
I completely feel for you!! My kids are 4 and 2, and while they are very good kids, they are still kids. Thank God for 99 cent kids movies at Blockbuster. I am starting school on Monday, and I can't wait, but I know it is going to be hard for them. This is my second attempt at school (first time was for an English Lit degree), and I think back to how lucky I was the first time, since I had no kids, but I did worse in school then than I do now. It took some growing up to take school seriously. Its funny how life works out sometimes.
I'm in a CNA class right now. My kids are 15, 8 and 5. I try to get the kids involved in my studying. I hand them the flash cards and they quiz me. Makes them feel like the teacher and in the process, I am studying! It's hard though because classes start at 5:00 and I don't get to spend much time with them those 2 days a week. Fall semester is starting soon as well so I'll be even busier with prereqs.
Anyway, hopefully you can try to get your kids involved with your studying. They might learn something too. My kids can name all the bones in the body!
I feel your pain. I have two little ones ages three and 1.5. I am a stay at home Mom though. My son attends morning preschool four days a week and my daughter is home with me everday. What helps me the most is have a strict bed time and nap time schedule with my children seven days a week.
I would suggest putting your daughter to bed at 8:00pm and study then and get up early in the morning at about 5-6am and study before work.
Also, use your lunch hour wisely. You could probably study for 45 mins then if you had you lunch packed and all of your study materials.
renerian, BSN, RN
5,693 Posts
I started nursing school with a 2 month old and a 2 year old, babysat 6 kids under 2 part time/different days and worked full time. The only way I could study was to get up early in the morning-3 or 4am to study. Hard life but it worked for me.
renerian