tired of school

I have actually considered taking a leave of absence from work. Being the DON is very stressful. But my staff and I are a close knit bunch, and they about had a coronary when I suggested a LOA. The last part of my program is so intensive that I just am feeling overwhelmed. I can take a LOA from school, but hate to being so close to the end. I am thinking my staff may simply have to cut me some slack. I cannot keep up this pace. I'm not married, but have enough saved that I could be off work for a few months and still keep the bills paid.

I remember feeling the same way when I was doing my BSN midlife while working full time. I can just imagine how much more intense doing your MSN is under those circumstances. I had a good friend who cheered me on, and afterwards I was so glad. If I might just suggest taking a page from recovery literature: when the going is very tough, take it one day at a time. If necessary, take it one half day at a time or one hour at a time. It sounds hokey but it really does work. It's like if you are walking up a very steep and exhausting hill, it helps to look down at the ground rather than at the summit. Or, if you are on a weight loss plan and have a lot of pounds to lose, it helps to make small goals and reward yourself. I too am 50 and I give you HUGE credit for what you are undertaking. Cheers to you...I know you can do it!!!

Calliotter3, I am doing a MSN-education through Walden university's online program. It is a good program. Just that I work 8-10 hrs a day...on a good day, then come home and do 2-4 hrs schoolwork all evening. Somewhere in there I have to fit in time for my sons who still live at home. I thought they were time consuming when they were 1 and 4. I think 18 and 21 requires just as much time! Trying to teach the 18 yr old to drive a standard shift truck, keeping them aimed in the right direction, listening when they want to talk...not when I have time..and so on. Then there are the 4 other children who are out on their own, but still need mom. I swear I have one daughter who can talk for 2 hours on whatever her crisis of the day is...the goat is sick, her husband is in Iraq, the kids are acting out, etc...and I have a paper due before midnite... Then my dogs expect attention, my parents think I have abandoned them, it takes 3 hrs to mow my 3 acres of yard, I need to get the garden planted, and the 5 grandchildren need lots of nana attention...and I am tired! Something has to give. Now I sound whiny. So I vote for a LOA from work, and as you said, I can drop in and see everyone now and then.

I vote for taking time off from work, too. If you don't think you can do an actual LOA, how about trying to work 1/2 days until you're done with your program?

When I first started back to school full-time, I thought I could keep up a full-time work schedule too. And keep up a home. Oh, and did I mention I had a health scare that involved eventual surgery?

One day I realized that it might not be admitting utter defeat to just stop trying to be everything to everyone. So I gave them a deadline at work by which I would either cut back to part-time or give my notice to leave. There were still lots of times when I allowed myself to be overwhelmed, but at least I could look forward to catch-up time and I could still have date-time with my husband on the weekends.

I'm done with classes now until August when I'll being an Adult Nurse Practitioner program and I was almost as excited about the summer off as I was being accepted into the program! Back to working 40+ hours a week, but I can handle that.

I just have one question...with an 18 and 21 year old still living at home...why are you mowing the yard?

I just have one question...with an 18 and 21 year old still living at home...why are you mowing the yard?

Excellent question! That made me laugh. My 21 yr old is working almost 80 hrs a week. In his spare time, he goes over to his father's house to mow his yard. His dad is very ill (severe CHF, ESRD on dialysis, had sev MI's, etc.) The boy only has time to mow one yard, so I'd rather he help his dad. He has joined the air force, and will be leaving in 6 wks for basic, so when he is here I try to spend time with him no matter what else I need to be doing.

My 18 yr old...don't quite know the problem. I have a 4-wheeler, and I pull a 60 in. mower deck with it to mow my 3 acres. The boy seems afraid of the machinery. He has never even asked to ride the 4-wheeler. He saved his money and bought a truck he wanted, certain he could learn to drive it even though it is a standard shift. He will drive it only if I go with him to help coach him through it. He does pretty good, but will not drive it alone. He is a very quiet, very intelligent young man. Stays to himself alot, or just here with me. Socializes very well with his siblings. He hates loud noises. There seem to be so many things he is afraid of. Lots of things he will admit to me that he fears, but I think he is afraid of the equipment and is embarrassed to tell me so. I suggested that he learn to manage the 4-wheeler and mower, and the look of fear in his eyes worried me. I just don't have the heart to make him do it just yet. First I will try to help him learn to drive the 4-wheeler. And the truck...he has to drive it alone. He is going to college next semester, so he has to be able to do it. I wonder if this is because he was our baby, and his 5 siblings and I always sheltered him. None of the others have these strange fears.

I don't have nearly as much going on as you, but I can certainly relate! I work my 3 shifts over the weekend, have class twice a week, and clinicals three days a week. Needless to say, the dog and the husband have been thoroughly neglected since I started school.

What's kept me going is my goal - I really want this, and whenever I feel myself ready to quit, I take the time out to refocus, remember that I'm doing this for a reason, and - most importantly - that it will all be over soon!

You've gotten so far, keep going! It will be worth it in the end! You can do it!