College Bound

It is duable A.. I am doing it right now. I have 4 sons and a granddaughter now 9 mos old. It's rough but to tell the truth, i couldn't do it without my husband. He makes meals so i can study and is very good about making the boys pitch in to help around by picking up their belongings, etc.
It's been rough but wouldn't trade it for anything. I will graduate in may and am now seriously thinking about going for my bsn! What is wrong with me??!

A.,

You have to manage your time very closely and stay organized. On top of it, you must have support from you spouse. Without him agreeing to help do somethings (like housework, taking a little more responsibility with some other things) then it will be very stressful for you and him.

I did this for almost 2 years (on hiatus for now til the twins are born) but I worked 40 hours a week, plus had other obligations along with my 3 year old. I would spend time with my son as much as possible and sacrificed sleeping, to do homework.

Hope it helps, good luck with school.
T.

Hi A.!
First of all, congratulations on making the decision to go back to school. It is a lot of hard work, but as I near graduation, I realize that it has been worth all the sacrifices. Having the support of your significant other is extremely important-as well as that of other family and friends. I agree whole-heartedly with many of the other suggestions you've gotten- orginaization is key! I make a menu for every night of the week, and make sure everything is there to make each meal- that way, it is very simple for my fiance to cook dinner if I need extra study time. Also, I have enlisted my kids (they are 8 and 6) to help with chores around the house- filling the dishwasher after dinner, folding laundry, and cleaning up after themselves. School is very exciting- I love every minute of it- but it is also hard work. Best of luck to you!!!!

Hi A....I resently went back to school too. I am in massage therapy school which is antomy and phisology one day and Massage techenic the other day. sat and sun for the next 15 months. my kids span in ages from 19yrs to 2 yrs old living at home with me. I think it has actually brought my kids into a new understanding, that A. your never to old to learn something new, and B. wow moms no different then us, gotta do her homework, and wow moms staying home and not going out with her friends because of school and homework.
They have told me they see me in a new light.
One piece of advice I can give you, is sometimes it easier to take your books and go sit in the park to study. it quiet and the sun feels so good.
Good luck in your classes.

Hi A.,

I am currently going to Cincinnati State for my RN nursing degree. I started going awhile back and it has been hard for me because I work full time and have a baby. I currently work during the day and take classes at night. I don't take a full course load but I take 1 or 2 classes a semester. That way I am only gone 1 or 2 nights a week and I am still able to spend a little time with my husband and daughter. I do my studying and homework at night after my daughter and husband go to bed. I am hoping to become a SAHM while I am waiting to get into the techical sequence of the program. You can write me directly if you want any information about the nursing field.

Hello A.. Nursing is alot of course work so I suggest having your 3 y/o in preschool or at the sitters for a few hours each day so you can do school work. When I was going to school I did school work with my children while they did their school work. It was a bonding time, pluss if they had questions I was right there to help and it also instilled some good skills w/ doing their homework as soon as they got home from school. When they were done and I needed to finish something up I would have the older ones read and the younger ones color. The youngest one I had was a two y/o at the time and she would cuddle with me at night while I read my chapters. Little things like that make a big diff b/c you get time with the little ones and school work done. Congrats on going back to school and Good Luck!

The best advice I can offer is to take things one day at a time. Make 2 lists of the things that absolutely NEED to be done for the day and for the week. If the laundry or washing the kitchen floor aren't on that list, don't worry about them. You should also talk with your girls, it's amazing how much time it saves me to have my daughter help clean-up and put away her own toys and dirty clothes(with a little help), she'll be two in april. Also, pick a segment in the day that you just spend time with your family and forget about everything else.
Most of the time I can devote the entire evening from 4-8:30 entirely to my daughter and husband. This helps battle the guilt and helps me be able to focus on school again later. I start my class work after she goes to bed, or I get up early so I can spend a little alone time with my husband.
Ask for help in the cram times!

I'm 21 and have been a full time student since 2003, I had my daughter a week after finals my sophmore year, and I started back when she was four months. I'll graduate with my B.A. in Biomedical Humanities in May, and hopefully will be heading to vet school in the fall. I wouldn't have made it without extra support from my husband and our families.

When I was a single mother to 5 children, I went to school full time and worked part time. You will find that you do what you need to do. It is means staying up until 2:00am - then that is what you do. If it means that that laundry will have to wait and the furniture is dusty - that is OK too.

I do recommend meal planning. Plan your meals for a couple of weeks or even a month at a time. (And yes, grilled cheese and soup is a meal.) Then shop from your menu. It will totally ease your stress if you know exactly what you are having for dinner and all you have to do is pull the meat out of the freezer. Trust me on this one. A little effort up from will help you so much!

Hi A., First of all- Congratulations on your decision to further your education.Yes, it is possible. I am a mom of three ages 6 yr, 3 yr, and 1 mo. I have been taking my college courses for the past 1 1/2 yrs. My advise is to make sure you set aside special time for the family and kids and specific homework time, where the kids know not to disturb mom. I usually set them up with a movie and treat or something. I used to try to commit to my studies after the kids were in bed, but by that point in the night, I too was really exausted, and did'nt always give it my all. Also, at some point each week take some you time, so you don't get overwhelmed. Its great that you have a supportive husband. Untill recently, I was a single mom, trying to pull it all off and it was not easy. Good luck!

I haven't been in your shoes. I went to college before we had our kids, and dropped out 5 credits short of my associates when we had our first child. Everytime I have tried to go back just to finish up the associates life has gotten in the way. I have decided to wait and go back when all of my children are in school. I have however been married to a man that was going through nursing school for his RN. Your family is going to have to pull it together and work as a team on this. Nursing school is hard on a person...well..RN school. It is a lot between courses, course work and clinicals. But if you work as a team you will get through it. They say if you can make it through nursing school you can make it through anything. They also say that if a family can make it through nursing school they can make it through anything.
I would take it one day at a time. I miss school and can't wait to get back. Originally I was also headed into nursing but now I feel more directed into Social services and assisting with adoptions.
It helps that your step daughters are older. Maybe if they live with you or close to you and if the relationship is such, they wouldn't mind helping out with their half sisters from time to time. If your not a coffee drinkier..you soon will be. Pretty much everyone in nursing school lives on the stuff...and that doesn't change in the field.
My husband is now the OR manager in one of our two local trauma hospitals. He isn't liking management as much because his employees moan and graon and fight with each other about everything. But he loves the working in the OR, and working with many rather interesting traumas.

Good luck. Remember, one day at a time. Your a mom..thats a tough job, you've been prepared in ways you have yet to discover, so you will be fine.

Hi A.,
You need support! I have been in school since my oldest son was 9 mos old (he is 4 now). I still have 18 mos to go and I will have my Associates degree in nursing. It can be stressful. I have also worked full time up until now. (I am in clinicals now and have school Mon-Fri)I have to say that going to school now that I am older is a lot easier for me. I have always been a fairly good student, but learning is a little easier now that I can apply it to real life. I have a better perspective. My house is cluttered and not nearly as "clean" as I would like it, my laundry is never really done. I am fortunate to have wonderful parents and in-laws who watch my children while I am in school and my husband works. They also will watch them if I have a big test and just need an afternoon to study. I tried to schedule some time between my classes (as much as I could) to study. It seems that when I am at home I can always find something else that needs to be done (laundry, cleaning, playing) and I put off the studying. Organize. Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it; studying from 10-11pm each night, laundry all day Sat, "husband time" on Sun and Wed evenings ;) whatever works for you. Don't forget to include a little sanity time for yourself though.

Ask for help. If you need someone just to watch your children, maybe your husband to pick up some housework whatever. You can't do it all. You are still being a good wife and mother even if you aren't able to give as much time for those specific things. Bettering yourself by getting an education and doing something important to you will set a good example for your girls. Try not to feel guilty for missing some things in your children's lives. It is hard, but they are still young. They won't remember that you couldn't attend the first preschool field trip (something I cried over), or breakfast with Santa that you have always done (more crying for me). When they are 12 and 16 they won't begrudge you for those small missed things. Just do your best and it will pay off in the end. At least that's what I keep telling myself ;)
Good luck
~L.