Q for those married with kids...

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2005

My advice is simply determine what you can handle. Take a class or two at a time, and decide if that is a doable thing in your situation.

Everyone is different, especially in monetary standards. What one may believe is broke, another may think is a life of luxury. lol

Good luck to you, and congrats on your future family! :)

sddlnscp · Aug 25, 2005

I think Fun2Care is right - try taking it slow at first and see how that goes - you can always add more classes later. I am 26 and have 2 children (a 3 yr. old and a 4 month old) and am starting pre-reqs on Monday. However, I have done online schooling for a year (working towards a different degree before I decided not to waste my time on something I didn't want to do and go for my dream) and have done just fine. I work full time and have a hubby who works full time as well. I will not be able to quit my job, so I will only be able to go to school part time and that is what is going to work best for my family - regardless of what I want, I will not take away from my children. There have been many people who have made it through school and had a baby, even more than one - you can do it if you really want to. Just take it slow at first and see how it goes - give yourself as much time as you need off after you have the baby (I took 6 weeks from work and from school) so that you can enjoy him/her and then get back into it slowly. Best of luck to you - you can do it no matter what your obstacles - just look at me, 2 kiddos, full time job, hubby with full time job, and school - I may be insane when I'm done, but I will get through it.

hikernurse · Aug 25, 2005

I've got a whole lotta kids and I started NS this week. We live on one not huge salary; we're just careful and don't buy what we can't afford to pay for. Fortunately, neither one of us has expensive tastes and we both hate debt :).

I wouldn't necessarily plan kids around school, I'd be more inclined to plan school around kids. You can do it! NS know that most of their students are in their reproductive years and they tend to be pretty good at working around that. My youngest is 9 mo. and while I hate leaving him, I usually leave him with his dad or nana and that makes things much easier.

Congratulations on your new addition; this is a wonderful time for y'all.

dettwiller5 · Aug 26, 2005

I have 3 kids ages 11, 5, and 3. I too already have a BS and have decided to go back to nursing school. I had 4 prereqs to take and I took them one at a time because up until this fall when my 5 year old starts Kindergarten, I still had two children who were not school aged. I found a RN program that meets two nights a week and every other weekend. I dont work but I want to be there as much as possible to volunteer at the schools, go on field trips etc, plus my yopungest is only in preschool a few hours per week.

We live on a budget but we are managing and it will all be worth it in the end. I am starting the RN program in January and it will take 3 years to complete.

Micci · Aug 26, 2005

I agree with someone who said to plan school around kids. The thing to consider is how far apart do you want your children spaced. Nursing school takes 2 years, not including pre-reqs and gen ed. Would you want to be pregnant during nursing school and start your new career with a new baby? Would you want to be established in your new career when baby comes along? Would you rather take time on gen ed courses while having your second baby, and then worry about nursing school when baby is older?

The financial part is hard to assist with, because only you know what you husbands salary, benefits package..ect looks like. Also, what your family expenses are, where you can and can not cut corners and what you are willing to sacrifice. I've been a stay home mom for 8 years, raising our 3 kids, and we are in the opposite situation. I am going back to work because the costs of school and the daycare I am going to have to afford when I go into the nursing program are making it difficult to live on only one salary- which was comfortable before.

It really is difficult when there are children to consider in the school equation. It always seems the women get the brunt of the responsibility for the scheduling of their lives around the children's. Good luck!

allnurses Guide · Aug 26, 2005

Of course the best advice is getting your career stuff completed before having kids - but real life sometimes catches you by surprise.

I went to college after high school majoring in Social Work and was a year away from a BS when my car broke down. I used my tuition money to buy a new car, dropped out of school and worked, thinking I'd return as soon as I saved up enough. Ah well, I went on a blind date, fell in love and the rest is history.

I didn't get into nursing school until all my kids were in school full-time. That meant my youngest was in 1st grade. It was still extremely hard. I commuted 70 miles to school. I missed my kids. This was the time when my 2nd son starting getting into trouble, which escalated later in high school. :sniff:

My kids are more important than schooling or my job. I had another baby (surprise) after becoming a nurse, now work part-time and will not ever work full-time again. My priority is my kids - and I don't want someone else to raise them. My inlaws are here for my son the 4 days a pay period I do work and so he has people who love him taking care of him plus he gets to play on their ranch and ride big tractors with grandpa and work in the garden with grandma or pickle cucumbers or can fruit . ..

I guess I would say my kids are first and I wish I had finished college before I had them.

They grow up too fast . .. I have a 22 year old as my eldest and a 4 year old as my youngest and it seems like yesterday that the 22 year old was 4.

steph

happydz · Aug 26, 2005

I agree with the others in starting out slow. I started school when my daughter was 6 months. She's a year old now. When they are this young, their schedules are always changing and something new is always happening. Just when I think we're getting into a routine, she gets a growth spurt or she learns something new and wants to stay up all night.

Just stay flexible and don't overwhelm yourself early on. I agree with the poster above me. Children do grow up fast. Enjoy your family and good luck with school!

lalajenn · Aug 27, 2005

I started college when my oldest was 1 and she is now 10 and have added 2 more children to our family so I have been trying to go to school for 9 years. I stopped for awhile after having my 2 sons. I really wish though I had finished school before I had anymore kids but I am still happy because now I have the 3 kids I wanted and can totally focus on school. :) I agree though with it depends on each individual. I would take it slow at first and see how it goes. Congrats and good luck!!

rainbowbrite · Sep 2, 2005

Thanks to all who responded :)

I will take your advice into consideration...

d2k2 · Sep 4, 2005

Hello,

I totally understand your concern. I am married with two children, ages 3 and 4. I have just begun my first semester in the Pre-ADN program. My plan of action is to take only as many courses as I feel I can handle right now. Because my accptance into Nursing School depends on my grades heavily, I figure if I overload myself I will never get in. Thus, if all goes well, I will graduate with an Associates in Nursing in 2010. Yeah, I know, 5 years for a 2 year degree. It will all pay off in the long run. I also quit my job as an administrative assistant to go back to school, so we are surviving on one income. Believe it or not, it seems like we are almost better than before because I'm not spending $$ on gas, to go food, etc. and am budgeting and doing things the cheap way. These are all things I "didn't have time for" before. So, I say just do it. If you are sure that this is what you want to do, I would jump right in, just remember to only take on what you can handle at once.

-Dana

Hello to All!
I am 34 yo and about to have my first baby :redpinkhe
Although I have a BS in Communications, I realized some time ago that I would LOVE to go back to school to become a nurse I have a few pre-reqs already under my belt.
I REALLY want to go back to school but I worry about:
* Will we be able to manage on one salary if I go to school full time?
* How tough is it going to be to go back with a baby at home?
* I am 34 and am considering having one more baby in the future... should I
do it before or after school?
Any of u in the same boat? How did you manage?
Thanks for reading! :thankya:

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2005

I also quit my job as an administrative assistant to go back to school, so we are surviving on one income. Believe it or not, it seems like we are almost better than before because I'm not spending $$ on gas, to go food, etc. and am budgeting and doing things the cheap way. These are all things I "didn't have time for" before.

I remember watching a show, news or something where families would have a professional come in and determine how they could save money. Several of them were told that one of the two needed to quit their jobs. (Obviously, the lower paid one.)

The person went in and figured out gasoline cost, food, daycare, and all other expenses. Most of them realized it would be more beneficial financially to only have the main income coming in.