Time Management Success While Also Caring For Your Kids

trellimana · Nov 1, 2006

I'm doing it now! I am due in a few weeks with #5, and my others are 14,11,6, and almost 3. I won't sugar coat it, it's not easy! My husband works evenings, so I'm almost always here alone with the kiddies for dinner/baths/homework, and I'm in class during the days (and he's here with the toddler). I study while the older ones work on their homework (give toddler a coloring book and let him do his "homework" too), study after they go to bed, study during commercial breaks when we're watching TV together (lol), and anywhere I can get even 15 minutes to spare.

One thing that has helped a LOT is that I go through my notes, type up the important points (before a test) and have my daughter (11) read them to me as we drive around town on errands, while I'm cooking dinner, sometimes while I'm in the shower, etc. She loves helping me study, and it's like having my own little audio book of my important notes. This may or may not be an option for you given the ages of your kiddies and whether or not they'd be interested in helping, but it has helped me a great deal.

I have As in 2 of my classes and a very high B in the third at the moment (only 3 more weeks to go in the quarter) so I have to say so far, so good. Again, it's not easy and I do lose some sleep to study sometimes... the stress level is definitely high, and the house is not nearly as clean as it should be.

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2006

Not a mom, but there were several moms in my nursing class that I used to ask how they did it....it seemed difficult enough to juggle school w job w extra curriculars and a husband. Best advice they gave out: day care. One mom put her kids in day care 2x a week (the older ones went after school) and she spent the whole day either at school or doing schoolwork. The other days, she made it out of clinicals and class early enough to pick her kids up from school. She also made the kids responsible for some tasks around the house...dusting, vacuuming, etc. It seems like they were all very organized, to the point of having a spreadsheet made that was color coordinated to ensure everything got done.

You say your husband is gone a lot. Does he travel for work, work a lot, or just have a lot of activities? Maybe he can cut down a little so you can have it a bit easier.

Good luck!

cdietrich404 · Nov 1, 2006

He works alot. He runs his own business so the hours are crazy. 7am to 9pm 6 days a week.

Cheryl

paccookie · Nov 1, 2006

I have been reading throughout the site that the key to success in nursing school is having excellent time management skills.
My question to you all is how you managed while having kids at home to care for.
I have 4 kids, 7,5,2, and almost 1. My husband is gone alot. I have been putting off school honestly from some of the stories on here about the demands of nursing school. My life as it is right now is crazy busy.
If anyone cares to share how they managed, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Cheryl

Have you started your pre-reqs? I would start there and see what happens. Take it one class at a time and see how you manage. I started out with one class that I knew I would do well in - English 1101. I got an A and that gave me the confidence to go full time the next semester. I'm now in my second year as a full time student, full time unit secretary at a hospital, mom/wife, and I'm also taking EMT classes at the local tech school. My kids are six and almost three and they are doing fine. My husband is also in school and his job is pretty flexible and we can adjust our schedules so that we only need day care one day a week. We do skip a lot of the stuff we used to do like cooking elaborate meals and going out to movies and stuff, but we view school as a temporary thing that will lead to a better life for all of us. I study at work since I work the night shift and I go to class an hour early once a week (due to my ride having an earlier class) and use that time for studying too. It's very tough, but we manage. Do what you can and just take it one day at a time. Definitely start slow and then add more as you can. Your kids are still young and they can adapt easily. I'm not sure how things are going to work out for me once I get into the nursing program, but we'll worry about that when I get accepted. Good luck to you!

CG

paccookie · Nov 1, 2006

Oh, one thing I forgot. Check into online classes. They might suit your schedule better than a traditional class would.

CG

Mudwoman · Nov 1, 2006

School was 7am to 3:30 pm. Daycare during the day. I could pick up my son at 4pm. We got home at 4:30pm. He could play and watch TV and I had a wonderful arrangement with the mom 2 doors down that he could come there and play with her son for an hour if he wanted. I got on the treadmill for 45 min.

Dinner. Thank goodness for crockpots and anything you could cook and freeze. Meals had to be 30 min or less. I bought lots of convenience foods at Sam's Club.

By 7pm I was studying in front of the TV with the family. I learned to tune it out. In school, we would cover a chapter and then have a test first thing over that chapter the next day, then cover the next chapter, next day have a test and move on. I got to where I could read fast, make 3 x 5 note cards on the most important stuff and move on. That was for 5-6 subjects. By 10:30 I'm in bed. Up at 5am and out the door by 6am. Hubby took son to daycare.

Weekends was catch up. Laundry. Cook for the week or more and freeze. Put stuff together for crockpot meals so it would be ready. Grocery shopping without my child and with a list. Get in and get out. Clothes for son laundered and ready for the week. Everything organized and ready. Saturday night was NO STUDYING and Pizza and rented movies and a much needed break. Then Sunday afternoons, I studied hard, going back over chapters and also trying to get ahead with chapters if I could, while hubby had time with son.

I just had one child and you have 4, but hopefully there is something here that can help you.

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Nov 1, 2006

What I had to do first (right after the twins were born) was lose the expectation of having him to help me do "kids stuff". I had the first three 14 months apart and that expectation alone sent me into a depression after seeing what my husband wasn't doing (he was on night shift, so not his fault, but still needed help ya know).

I also got child care vouchers for them to go to school while I was in school and WIC was a Godsent with formula. There were days when I looked for diaper money in the couch cushions.

As far as studying goes, I did as little as I could at home. Every week day was spent from 8-4 at school and I was prompt picking up the kids at 4 so they could be on a consistant schedule.

On days I really needed to study at home (before a big test) I begged him to help me with the kids and he did.

He really is a very good Dad, it just took him a few years to get better at it I think. Now he is the best Dad I know and we are lucky for him. (should say blessed to have him)