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single mom, provider, student .. any advice on how to balance it all in the upcoming days?

Jennifer - posted on 12/05/2009 ( 2 moms have responded )

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Hello, My name is Jennifer and I know that I am a single mom and all but I figured since most of the women in this particular site have already careers or seeking such as I in education and such I was wondering if I could get small tidbits of advice for my new up coming journey into college (again)

I have a wonderful 6 year old boy who is now in school full time himself and well I have decided that it would be good for me to grow parallel to his growth and go to college again and finish my degree for Special Education/Psychology/Writing. I started this before I became pregnant and being a new mom chose to focus on providing for my child and seeing him through "baby" years before I ventured a little into my own dreams. I work about 36 hours a week - every other weekend (I have great sitters!! ) and sleeping overnights at 2 different waivered sites for individuals with disabilites currently and love it.. I am active in my son's school-- and I am starting college during the day in January.. my concern is time management and I have a little "road map" thus far on routine and priorities but I am a little timid about being so wrapped up in my own things that I may miss my son in the process? Is this normal? And I would like to avoid burn-out. I am only taking 9 credits for starters this semester so I have time to study during the day at school.. But any helpful bouts of "wisdom" would be most welcomed!!! Thanks Ladies!

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Rachel - posted on 12/08/2009

Just a word of encouragement. My son is 9 now and I have been a single mom all his life. I managed to finish college and get a good paying job when he was younger and NO it is not easy. Just take it one day at a time and tell yourself "This will all be worth it someday". It has been for me. I micromanaged our schedule when he was younger. I actually tired to schedule all my classes for 3 days a week and take some online classes. This way I still had a few days a week at home with him to enjoy. I learned to live on less sleep. I studied when he went to bed or was napping on the weekends. Hope this helps. I have been there and survived.....it can be done :)

Alma - posted on 12/05/2009

Hi Jennifer! I can relate a lot to your story. I'm the same way exact I do have the support from my boyfriend. (He's allergic to the M word) *marriage*. I just started going back to school for my Bachelors and your right it is very hard. Be thankful you have great sitters. My advice is to make a list of goals of what you would like to do with your son. I teach at Head Start and for me it is very important to remind parents to do that little activity with their child so they have that sense of "wow mom is taking an EXTRA time to do something with me." I'm taking 15 credits each semester and working 35 hours a week so it can be very stressful at times. And remind yourself that you are going back to school to do something for yourself and your doing an awesome job role modeling that to your son. My daughter is almost 3 and when she was born I went right back to work, I missed out a lot of her baby times and I hated it. your son is older and you just need to have that communication with him that you are thinking about him and that you care a lot for him.