Single Parenthood and CNM...

[MollyBG]

I am just curious of how to balance CNM obligations with raising young children. I can imagine in a 2 person household it can be challenging, but it almost seems impossible (right now at least) to manage in a single parent setting.

I am just starting my nursing courses and have long dreamed of becoming a CNM. I'm just not sure if that dream is in the cards for me now as a single mom to a 7 and 2 year old....I want to know if/how others have managed.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I had a midwifery student last fall who is a single mom of two elementary school-aged kids. She had lots of support from her parents, and her ex-husband had the kids 50% of the time, which helped her tremendously. She also dealt with a lack of sleep some days once she started doing night shift clinicals, so as not to miss morning soccer games, etc., but felt it was more important to be there for her kids as much as she could.

It is definitely doable, but you would need a LOT of help. Do you have family support? Does your ex see the kids at all? If no to either question, you could certainly hire the help you need, but that depends on your financial situation, obviously.

[James75]

I used to live with a single mom who worked nights in the ER and was on call very occasionally as well. She would rent out a room in her house at below market rate to reliable college students (that was me, back when I lived with her) in exchange for them being physically in the house with her children at night. Not really babysitting, just around in case something was needed. Of course, you could get someone and pay them or give them room and board in exchange for a certain amount of babysitting as well.

Hers were older than 2 and 7, but by the time you were a CNM, yours would be too. Of course this depends on the kid, but my three-year-old is now totally able to be put to bed by any of her grandparents, as well as our next door neighbors, for nights we're not around.