Do any mamas work, take care of kids, and take classes? I have been trying to save so that I can take some online courses towards a degree that I screwed up when I was preggers, but it seems like finding the time would be impossible, or expensive, if I hired a sitter. I'm sure it can be done, but is it worth the hassle? Can you actually get things done on time? That is my biggest concern, that I won't be able to meet deadlines. So, what do you think? I don't have a home internet connection, so I'd be traveling w/ds every week to get to a comp. with internet.
UPDATE:
:badday: Nothing ever works like it should. My roommate (old ex, good friend I thought) has informed me that I can either get back together with him (I cannot do this for reasons very disturbing to me) or get out, despite the fact that I pay rent, bills, and clean the house for him. So if I do get a chance to take courses, it will be from a place less than comfortable. Thank you mamas for sharing your experiences, it has given me hope!
Weezy6703
07-09-2008, 02:00 PM
No I stopped the classes when I got pregnant...but we were also moving. For me personally i don't feel it would be worth the hassle because I already feel i lose so much time with my little boy as it is now. focusing soley on school work from the time I get home until I go to bed would give me hardly any time with DS, cooking, cleaning, sewing/crafts (that's not done every night) bath time, etc. I understand there's a certain level of flexibility and not every single day would have to be spent on school but i think overall it woudln't be worth it for our family. and we don't have the extra $ for what scholarships don't cover for books and stuff and i refuse to get a loan for just that.
eta...this is just me but I ESPecially wouldn't drive my kiddos to go use computer else where...unless it was a home setting (aka friends or grandma's and grandmas wouldn't work cuz she's out of town). the few times i've gone to the library to work ont eh computer i ended up chasing the kiddo around. we don't have internet at home either.
dragondance
07-09-2008, 02:46 PM
Me!! School most of the morning, work all afternoon and evening. And the house neeever gets cleaned, lol, except a quick pickup and dishwasher load when I get home at 1am. I am trying to finish my online classes by the deadline (Aug 1!!!) so I am in a crunch. If I hadn't put it off it would have been better. But I am only doing so much of it because of the deadline and the prospect of being DONE!!!! (Seriously, this stuff and I get my B.S.)
joy7s
07-09-2008, 07:00 PM
i am not but dh is and it's stressful for both of us.. his income isn't enough so I still have to work a lot.. (well it seems like it to me!!) I'd say that for now with almost three young children it isn't worth it.. but that's just my opinion.. I feel like there's so much stress in our house.. it's a huge mess.. and I'm too tired to clean it! (or get quality time with my girls) If possible wait.. if not more power to you!! :)
slturner
07-10-2008, 08:06 AM
I DO! Let's see, I have DH + 4 kids, a full time job, and am working on my degree online! Before my youngest was born I was going to class. I had him one week before finals!!!!! I still managed to drag myself to class (wearing a baby:) ) to take my exams, but once they were done I found an online University to transfer to. There was no way I could keep up going to work and class. I have a VERY flexable job - so sometimes I can do things like school (and chat on DS) at work ;).
Online class have been much easier for my schedule. And I am progressing to my degree faster. Before I was considered a part time student, now I'm considered full time b/c it's an accelerated program (I begin a new term every 9 week). At this rate I'll be finished within a year. If I was still going to class it would probably take me another 3 years.
JellEBeanDesigns
07-10-2008, 09:26 AM
hahaha yup I went to school from 9-5 picked up ds from daycare dropped him at the grandparents worked from 6-10 picked DS up and took him home to bed...it sucked I quit working and went to school from 9-5 for 7 months finished my degrees and then had DS2 two months later and now I work
nothingtosee
07-10-2008, 03:00 PM
Thank you for your experiences, mamas. I just figure that it's my only hope, since I'm not qualified to get a job that I can actually support us on. Who knows? Maybe I can talk my roommate into paying for the 'net if I do extra chores. Only problem with that is that we live in the middle of NOWHERE and the only options are satellite(sp?) or dial up, and we don't have a home phone.
naivete
07-10-2008, 03:05 PM
I'm attempting it for September :) I'll be taking full time classes, working part time, and still raising a 5 year old and a 1 year old. It's going to be pretty hard, I'm guessing, but it needs to be done. Hopefully my mother in law is serious about moving to this city because she can help look after the kids.
Nikki_Nikk
07-10-2008, 06:05 PM
I have some stuff to finish in my current field, but I'm debating if I *really* want/need to do it now.
When I went back to school the first time before I graduated, it was hard with just my son who was one at the time. Myself, my husband, and my son all had to sacrafice things for a while. I felt horrible putting my son through it because he was so young.I did 10 hr school days, so I could jam it all in, and get ahead.
At that time, my college ed was reaaly (um..) diverse in nature, so if I were going to work, I'd only be making about $12 with my "job skills" at the time. I wanted make sure if I ever *needed* to be the breadwinner , that the time away from my kids would be well spent, and not wasted on several piddly positions.
So I considered school was a necessary responsibility at that time.
Now that I have my career established (and I can get a job anywhere/anytime with leverage in salary) I don't feel like I need to jeopardize my sanity (yes), and time with my kids, AND my performance at work.
I also yet havn't really considered what "the next step" in my career should be (if i'll stick with it :giggle: ) and when I want it to happen (when both kids are in grade school?) , so it really doesn't make sense for me to put my family through that right now.When I figure all that out- I'll re-evaluate. lol.
My position currently also include professional development, so from that angle it's kinda take it/leave it too.
I hope my rambling reflection helped...
It helped me :blush:
:giggle2:
p.s. (lol ps...)
Weekend corses from state colleges are :thumbsup: Super de duper for working moms! That I will be doing for the few things I could really use right now. They're expensive, but if your employer covers ed cost, it would be worth looking into :goodvibes:
(why can't I ever just answer yes/no to a post??)
Bot Girl
07-10-2008, 06:12 PM
I'm sure there are plenty of moms who can do it (my sister did it, and I'm proud of her), but it's not for me.
I'm choosing to be a mom now, and a student later. I feel comfortable, happy, and at peace with my decision. I think that's what's really important. How your choices make you feel about yourself, and your family.
If taking classes is what's right for you and your family, I say do it! :thumbsup:
If staying home with your family, and postponing school is right, then I say do that! :thumbsup:
PurlyQ
07-10-2008, 06:19 PM
I am a full time student, and I work part time on campus (work study). I make the drive to school (2 hours round trip) 3 days per week for work. My schoolwork is all crammed into 2 days. Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm there from 8am to 8pm with 3 hours of work on each day. It makes for some REALLY long days, but I get to be home with my sweet girl 4 days per week, and she comes with me to work on Sundays. It can be done, but you've gotta push yourself and remind yourself daily that it won't last forever! Good luck!
kimsansf
07-10-2008, 06:30 PM
That would be tough mama.... I am a FT student too, and I have taught some quarters and will teach again in the Fall. It's hard, but Im not in classes anymore... just dissertating.
When I was a masters student working FT and doing a full load of coursework... that was reeeeaaallly tough, but I didnt have DS. I dont think I could have done it.
Good luck to you mama!
naturegurrl
07-10-2008, 07:39 PM
I was at the very beginning of my senior year when i found out i was pregnant. But because i worked full time in a factory to support myself in school, and i hate my job, i wasn't going to quit school. Due to various reasons (study abroad and scheduling), I had 6 courses left to take after the end of my senior year. I returned for summer classes 6 wks after DS was born, and continued on until now. It will take a year and a half for six classes which i know is sad, but scheduling classes around my husbands and my work schedule has been very difficult (and I go to smaller school, so they offer many classes only every other year, and no online classes). It was hardest for me to pull myself out of bed after no sleep to wake up my baby to nurse him before classes, and I was only able to nurse for 6 months because I didn't keep up with pumping between classes and work. It has been hard, but totally worth it to know after my final class that I will graduate in December and be able to get a job that I enjoy. And i figure if I am happier and make more money, life will be less stressful in the long run (i hope?).
If you can take online classes, I would totally go for that because you would be able to spend more time and home, and less time commuting. I only have one kid, and I'm positive it would be harder with more and older kids. He is just now a year old and just now getting into everything and wanting my attention. Or you could wait until your kids are older and in school. I don't know because I only have a one year old, but I would imagine that school would be hardest when your kids are ages 2-6.
dragondance
07-10-2008, 09:31 PM
You can take online classes even if they aren't offered by your school, as long as they transfer in. My school didn't offer the upper division classes I needed online, so I am doing BYU Independent Study (Brigham Young University) classes. They all transfer in to what I need (I checked), and I have a year to finish them. (I did. Now I have until Aug 1 :giggle:). They are the largest independent study program in the US, last I heard.
Maybe I'm biased because I used to edit for them :giggle: but it seriously is awesome. My university doesn't have what I need, but I get my online classes anyway this way. Woot.
I was at the very beginning of my senior year when i found out i was pregnant. But because i worked full time in a factory to support myself in school, and i hate my job, i wasn't going to quit school. Due to various reasons (study abroad and scheduling), I had 6 courses left to take after the end of my senior year. I returned for summer classes 6 wks after DS was born, and continued on until now. It will take a year and a half for six classes which i know is sad, but scheduling classes around my husbands and my work schedule has been very difficult (and I go to smaller school, so they offer many classes only every other year, and no online classes). It was hardest for me to pull myself out of bed after no sleep to wake up my baby to nurse him before classes, and I was only able to nurse for 6 months because I didn't keep up with pumping between classes and work. It has been hard, but totally worth it to know after my final class that I will graduate in December and be able to get a job that I enjoy. And i figure if I am happier and make more money, life will be less stressful in the long run (i hope?).
If you can take online classes, I would totally go for that because you would be able to spend more time and home, and less time commuting. I only have one kid, and I'm positive it would be harder with more and older kids. He is just now a year old and just now getting into everything and wanting my attention. Or you could wait until your kids are older and in school. I don't know because I only have a one year old, but I would imagine that school would be hardest when your kids are ages 2-6.
bfoster2000
07-11-2008, 12:09 PM
I'll be doing it soon...with an added little twist that I'm single again! Woohoo! I put myself through college the first time working a full time job and a part time job while going to school full time...to get my Masters, it's looking like I'll be working full time, WAHM'ing part-time, and raising two toddlers alone. I can hardly wait. :rolleyes:
One thing I will tell you as someone who designs and teaches online courses and has taken several online courses in my career: Get internet access! Your experience will be a lot more pleasant if you have your own computer that you can install whatever software you need on, modify any necessary settings, and work on whenever you need to (including in the middle of the night when the kids are asleep). If you're having to drive to the library or to a friend's house or somewhere to get internet access, you're constrained by their schedule and demands on the computer. If you're using a public computer, you may not be able to download/upload files or modify settings to work with the software that runs the class. I know there are some people (mostly students using computer labs on campus) who manage to pull it off, but I've never known anyone to do it for more than one semester because it is far from an ideal situation. Since it's already going to be difficult for you, that will just make your problems that much worse. Good luck!
amariebaby1
07-12-2008, 12:49 AM
sooo, i got into nusing school when I was preggers. I started the first term full time with a 9 month old, working 30hrs/wk, and comuting 100miles/day. it can be done, but imo not really worth it if you can avoid it. by xmas break i broke down and asked dh if we could sell the house and move closer to my school. we pulled it off, and now i am full time nursing student and mommy, no other 'work-for-income'. i still don't have a lot of time with this program.
I do A LOT of homework during nap time (DH is also gone at that time). I can live off of 5 hours of sleep/night. I eventually will get my PhD, but I have accepted and am happy with the slow boat, my kids come first.
christy005
07-12-2008, 09:07 AM
I am right now. I work two part time jobs and am in a part time masters program. It's very stressful. I just started this quarter, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do. :(
I am behind on housework and pretty much everything. and I miss my son :(
FaithandAndrewsMom
07-15-2008, 10:47 AM
I haven't been to school I tried to do some online courses and work with a daughter, but I couldn't make it go. The usual, the house never got clean, no clean laundry unless it during the middle of the night. But I found a great new job that I have been enjoying and it works great with the kids (now I have 2) with my DH and no degree necessary! YEAH!! so I have been doing it full time (if you consider 2 kids a husband and a housefull of chores full time). My husband even jokes that by this time next year he wants to quit his job and be a SAHD! If anybody is interested check this out tbwl.org/krystal
cyrdian
07-16-2008, 12:25 AM
First of all- so sorry-something is seriously wrong with my spacebar and it is driving me crazy!
I have my degree now, but did a year at school after my first dd was born plus online classes at the same time. I didn't have an internet connection either, so downloaded and printed a lot, and mailed some assignments. I found time to read a little each day during other classes or when breastfeeding. (Actually , OT sorry- one time I was breastfeeding and highlighting a textbook at the same time. I fell asleep and highlighted right through my baby's sweater and onesie all over her back-have some pics of it still).
Still, I was pretty wiped, our dinners weren't exactly stellar, and our apartment was a mess. My opinion- if it is really important to you, then you will be able to make it work- but take on a little at a time and be kind to yourself -- you are already working hard! You could pick a class you think you would really enjoy and take it. Most classes have a short trial period you can drop within for a full refund if you decide not to take it.
I would love to get a higher degree, but am postponing it until later for now.
Suzi
07-17-2008, 02:27 PM
Sorry your roommate is being a butthead! I am working as an RN. I work about 30 or so hours a week and use a few hours of vacations each week. I have two little boys and I am going to graduate school full-time. It sucks, I feel like I am missing time with my boys but I am so glad that I will be done before they are in school and have schedules of their own. I also love my job and the town we live in and going to school will allow me to stay here. A friend is going back to school and her kids are much older and she has a heck of time finding the time for school since they have sporting events and such. You do just have to find peace liek pp said. If you are going to be frustrated that you're not in school then find a way to go to school a little bit at a time. Hugs mama!
