question for single moms

I am going to school right now just finishing pre-reqs I have a 4 year old daughter. I am lucky I have my sister to help me out on the days I go to school past 5 she picks up my daughter from daycare. I found working too many hours interfered with my schooling so I went down to just weekends. It definitely helps having a support system. I hope you have one. Good luck to you.:)

Find a daycare that opens early or you might have to pay somebody to watch him on early morning clinical days. I drop my two year old off at 6am, have clinicals until 1 then was working 1-530. That was to much daycare for me even two days a week so I quit my job. I have a night class so grandma sits and sometimes picks her up early so I can study. Some of the girls in my class who absolutely HAVE to work full time either do CNA work 12hr shifts on the weekends or work 3-11. Or even night shift and then head off straight to clinicals. I would not recommend this and it causes problems with childcare. Hope that helps. Sometimes you just have fly day by day.

I won't be starting clinicals until the fall, but I have been able to work full time during my prereq's by taking them through distance learning. My kids were in daycare before I started school, so nothing really has changed. This coming fall I will hopefully be attending a school that has a program for single mothers with housing and a built in support system. I am currently waiting to be accepted into the program. If I do not get into the program, I have been accepted into a diploma program and will have to continue to live with my father and cut my hours way down at work. But to every problem there is a solution. Good Luck with your schooling!

I am 24 and a single mom to a 6 year old boy. I was able to work the first year and a half of school...i saved enough money before and during nursing school and I have since quit my job. I will be graduating in may. It has been hard but, i am lucky because i also have a supportive sister. she takes him to shool and picks him up when i can not. I somtimes have night clinicals and my mom helps me out with that.

Anyway, good luck!

Pearl

Kelli my dear....

Thank you for writing and I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to visit until today.

I am a single mother x 13 years now. I began nursing school, pre-req's and such when my son was 2 1/2 years old and finished my RN degree about 7 1/2 years ago.

Fortunately, I lived in a state that had a retraining program for single mothers, displaced homemakers and the likes of us which helped out tremendously with additional costs. I had worked all my life up in the work force and as a devoted mother; thus I cared about our future and had an incredible work ethic which became the premis for all else to follow. I didn't come into nursing by accident; the purpose took years to reveal--but it was so meant to be. I treated my schooling and this increadible opportunity of a lifetime as a full time job---as I did my passion for being a mother. I have no regrets for lost time with my child. I had to give that to my "higher power" and prayed caring people would be in our lives that could keep us safe until a better situation arose.

Financial aid comes in all forms; scholarships, grants and loans helped. You have now have the Nurse Reinvestment Act--we didn't back then. I do have a student loan for $10,000 which my monthly repayment is approximately $123.00 which is a small price to pay for what my career has given me. Because of this loan, I didn't have to work when I was in college. You will find a several trade offs. It's up to you what will work for you and you're family.

Kelli, keep the faith; keep looking for opportunities; and don't give up. Let us know how your doing. Above all....Best of luck!!!

:kiss Ruby

I am a single mom, youngest now 8, just graduated from BSN program. Very difficult to work plus school. Nusing school was demanding. I survied financially on grants, loans, and scholarships. Took me many yrs to complete education. I would take my children to the playground and study while they played. My advice is make your goal and just stick with it, step by step, you make it. Keep us posted on how your are doing.

Kelli,

I am also a single mom to a 4 year old. I'm taking as many pre reqs as I can online, but when my daughter starts kindergarten next year I'll be able to attend on campus. I work about 20 hours a week waiting tables, and I hope to get enough financial aid to be able to cut that to 10-15 hours. I have a lot of support from my parents who watch my daughter while I'm at work. I'm not sure what I'll have to do for child care once clinicals start, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. I think the school district she's in has after school care untill 6pm, so that should help.

hello

I am single mom of two: ages 9 and 6. I waited until youngest one started full time to kindergarten. Thankfully thier school has excellent after school program for peanuts a week. I had no help but scant emergency sitting from an elderly neighbor.

I take my girls to the park so they can play while I study on sunny days and then to the library on rainy days. My youngest loves to color, work puzzles, play matchng, computer games (for preK kids) She also loves my little pony and her polly dolls. These are wonderfully portable. My oldest is a bookworm (also portable) and reads to the youngest and me when we are in the car (and if I am not replaying lecture)

I also had to be very tough about boundaries: ex. "do not bother me while I am in the bathroom unless you are bleeding or on fire."

I made the same rules about study time if I HAD to study while they were up. Usually I have a big cup of coffee about 4:00, girls have a strict, set bedtime of 8:00...then tis my time to study till bedtime (no tv). I found that if I was more strict with my time and budgeting it right...then I could relax and really be present with them when we had our time together (meals, reading, bath-time, tuck-ins) also, we go for a walk after dinner.

The daycare's in my area are something I would not consider. (I live in the poorest county in a very poor state...lotsa lice and shigella, lots family violence and teen prego's) BTW I worked in daycare for a couple of years and where I worked was wonderful.

Best of luck to you...

Sorry it took so long to post back.. I thank you all for your posts they really meant alot. My dad lives in Texas but he won't want to watch my son and that is fine with me.. I have left it up to the Lord though because He knows best.. Wish me luck and I will keep you all post on the outcome of everything.. Good luck to you all and God Bless!!!

KELLI

Years later the footprints of your words are a resounding TRUST IN ME from the Big Daddy "G"! Thank you for taking the time to respond !