Where to study?

Denny's or IHOP. Are there any 24 hr restaurants in your area?

There is an iHop 2 minutes from me, but it closes at 10pm. All other 24hr restaurants near me are drive-thru only after about 10pm. I'm a night owl and work only night shifts, so 10pm is right about when my brain is functioning normally. If I drive 40 miles into Chicago, I know there are a ton of places to go into.

You need to sit the family down and let them know how much studying is involved and that you need help and cooperation. Studying for anything in the health field takes a LOT of time and effort. They are most likely not aware. If you have an area that you can make "your own", using noise cancellation headsets may be helpful. Your family needs to understand the importance of your needing to study to meet the goal of graduating to provide a better life after school! Good luck.

Can you set up a 'quiet corner' at home? Nothing fancy, just an area where you can be comfortable, with plugs for your laptop and focus on the task at hand. Nursing school can be hard on relationships, I'd hate to see you interjecting even more distance by physically removing yourself from your family. Agree with PP - explain the situation to them and ask for their help.

I would love to not have to leave home. And my family (wife and her mom) know the commitment level required. My wife is an RN, so she was in my shoes just a few years ago. However, HER mom could really care less. She only leaves the house about 1/mo for a Dr. appointment. She loves to yell on the phone, at the TV, the dogs, slam doors, etc. and is up ALL the time. Plus, not sure if I have ADHD, but I'm like the dog in "Up". I'm a horrible procrastinator. Figured if I physically remove myself from the kitchen, TV, and so on, I'll be forced to concentrate.

I really want to succeed, and by that I mean I don't want to just scrape by with a passing grade. I may have to drive a bit further to find a place. On my way home, I realized that the Oasis on tollways are open 24. There's one about 20 minutes away. I may hit that up this weekend.

I know what you mean. I'm the same way and struggling with it too. One thing that could work is if you set up a room or area that is just for school work. Ideal would be that you could close the door - or at least make it seperate somehow. (Curtain, room divider, or even converting a large closet.) Ear plugs or headphones could help too as others mentioned.

Go to a friends house maybe.? If you're that desperate for a quiet place...

A frank discussion with MIL (or have wifey do it), a room with a sign on the (closed) door, and earplugs. Unless you have the time to drive far away to study. Also, I doubt any place you could find would be silent -- but that could be fine, since it sounds like the specific noise of your MIL is what's bothering you. Good luck.

Could you stay at a male friend/classmate's house for a few extra hours occasionally? That might help if there is nothing local. If not, earplugs may have to be your new friend. I feel your pain. If it were legal to muzzle your MIL, my life would have been much quieter these last 20 years.

Also, as your wife is an RN, could you go to the hospital to study? Ours has free wifi and the visitor area is quiet at night.