I have two boys; one is 5 and one is 1 1/2. I work part time whenever i can work around my husbands 3-11 pm work schedule (he has to watch the kids) My oldest will start kindergarten this August (the day after my first day or NS!) and i am wondering what all the nursing student parents did to be able to study during the day with the kiddos around but still give them something semi-productive to do so that they aren't just being baby sat by the t.v. I really don't want to resort to this but remembering how hard it was for my pre-reqs to get any time in (the baby was VERY clingy, he followed me around and screamed at me about all day-everyday but it is a little better now that he is old enough to play with the older one) i feel like i am heading for a disaster of a headache trying to stay up late nights after putting the kids to bed and only then having a chance to get anything done.
We have a nice area where we live and are fortunate enough to be surrounded by family(mostly older family who are not in any condition to watch two young kids) on a hill with four houses total, but there is no designated areas where i can sit and read while watching him because it is down-hill either way you go and we are also surrounded by woods in the back and the street in the front so when he takes off he could be anywhere in a matter of seconds where i cannot find him.
I would really appreciate some advice as to what to do for them to occupy them so i can get some work done here and there when nursing school starts next month!
What is a healthy routine for them so that they aren't completely neglected for the next two years!?
BTW, i find out on the 13th of August during orientation if i will go to school in the morning or afternoon which could significantly change things.....If i go to school in the mornings i will be home in time for my husband to go to work(still no way to study with help of sitter) and if i have afternoon school i will have to get a daycare position for the baby and can study before school everyday while the hubby is home. I KNOW there are so many single parents out there who have done it and succeeded without homes burning down, loss of limbs from children being unattended in a room for short periods of time, children resenting them for neglecting them for two years, etc. so i know it's possible!
You are exactly right. Growing up I half assed EVERYTHING, just made excuses and procrastinated till the very last minute and wondered why I wasn't productive at anything because I had such a low self esteem and well, I'm sure you get the point! My kids are literally spitting images of me and their father and they act just like us too, I don't want them to carry on any of my bad habits and I've hit it hard this last month on researching routines and healthier structures to develop as a family! I'm going to do it right and show them how it's done! (Try my hardest anyway and then some )
I think the voice memos would benefit me a lot right now with my toddler screaming all the time, I could put some headphones in while I'm cleaning. Thank you for the advice :
Three young kiddos at home sounds like a hand full and a half!!! It sounds like you've made it work though!
I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old. On days where my older daughter was in kindergarten (she's going into 1st grade in September), I studied when my younger daughter napped, and then again when they went to bed. They go to sleep no later than 8:30pm, and then I usually do a quick clean-up of the living room/kitchen (no more than 30 minutes), and then study from 9pm until I'm done. There were some very late nights for me. In addition, on one of my husband's days off, I go to campus and spend several hours in the open lab, take a break for lunch, and then hit the library for several hours of studying. I always have flashcards on a ring with me, and I study them while at dance class, or in the waiting room at the pediatrician's office, etc.
On days where my oldest is home, I still study during naptime, after setting her up with a snack and a quiet activity (coloring, Playdoh, beading, etc). Once she was reading better on her own, I'd print out fun worksheets for her, and we'd both sit at the table and do our schoolwork together, which she loves. My husband has had to step up a lot with the housework, which he doesn't love, but we both know it's not forever that I'll be so busy. I try to do a mommy-daughter date with each of the kids once a month, because I know it upsets them sometimes that I am gone/busy so often.
My "plan" is.... Let the kids stay in daycare until about 5-6pm (I get out of school about 1-3) and study in the library during the time after school. That way when I get home I can dedicate 100% of my attention to them. We also don't go to school on Wednesday, but I will still take them to daycare so I can study that day or go horseback riding in the morning. I have a 2 and 3 yr old.
I had five when I went to NS. The youngest was one. Just know they will feel neglected. I had to quit my part time job when clinicals started and my husband and I struggled some. I would stay up late and study while they were asleep. I would wake up at 3 am on test days to get extra time before an exam. I would study with them on my lap and when I was home alone with them. They will feel a little neglected but it goes by fast. I missed a lot of school award ceremonies and even my sons 8 th grade graduation because it was a practicum day I could not miss. Just be prepared to sacrifice. Remind yourself when you are frustrated that those babies are the reason you are doing it. Good luck!
Since your youngest is just a toddler, I think your best bet is going to be scheduling study time outside of the house. Or find them daycare/sitter somewhere else while you study at home. It's a sacrifice but it's not impossible :)
Your post made me smile. Along with a few other posts from some mama's that assure me although this is going to be a rough long road ahead, it is still possible to have a strong relationship with my kiddos and to remind them i'm still here for them, even though a lot of times it may feel like i'm not around as much as i wish i could be you all gave me hope that it's not as bad as i'm making it out to seem. Thank you for the help, I'm working super hard these next few weeks to make sure i get the on a good routine similar to yours!
Kudos to you, thank you for your honesty! And i hope you gave yourself many pats of the back for your determination esp. waking up at 3 a.m! THAT is determination!
I agree, my plan is to get a student loan and use it towards daycare, the campus has one and i will see about taking him there but when my oldest was the age of my youngest now, i tried taking him there and he was NOT having it. Everyday he screamed and cried and kicked for months and it dug deep into my heart it SUCKED! Now they both go to the daycare at my gym and do just fine so i am praying it will work the same for the childcare. thank you :)
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
when my oldest was the age of my youngest now, i tried taking him there and he was NOT having it. Everyday he screamed and cried and kicked for months and it dug deep into my heart it SUCKED! Now they both go to the daycare at my gym and do just fine so i am praying it will work the same for the childcare. thank you :)
I encourage you to discuss your concerns and your prior experience with your son not adjusting *prior* to your son's start date.
Because these people work with kids day in and day out, they may have some suggestions/tips/ techniques to help you and your son.
Plus, I hope that since your son is older now and has experience away from you at the gym daycare, he'll adjust more easily!
Studying with little ones around is NOT an easy thing to do. I started nursing school with a 2 (almost 3) year old and I was pregnant with my second child. My oldest never gave me problems so the first semester was easy to conquer. I delivered my second child during the first week of second semester and went back to class 6 days later. THANK GOD my newborn was a champ at switching from boob to bottle and sleeping through the night because I had to do a lot of handing her off to my husband or my mom so that I could get work done. It was difficult (physically and emotionally) and there were times I had to stay up really late to get things done. Many times, I would take all my study materials to Panera or Barnes and Noble to get away from the chaos of everyone needing me at home. Doing well in nursing school with little ones at home is not easy but it can be done with enough support and self-discipline. I made it through without repeating any semesters and you can too. Oh, and remember to make time to love on your babies every chance you get! Good luck to you!
I will certainly do that, I'm going to go up to the school for a few things this week so I will stop by the center and discuss it with his teacher. Thank you í ½í¸€
melrey1988
24 Posts
You are exactly right. Growing up I half assed EVERYTHING, just made excuses and procrastinated till the very last minute and wondered why I wasn't productive at anything because I had such a low self esteem and well, I'm sure you get the point! My kids are literally spitting images of me and their father and they act just like us too, I don't want them to carry on any of my bad habits and I've hit it hard this last month on researching routines and healthier structures to develop as a family! I'm going to do it right and show them how it's done! (Try my hardest anyway and then some
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