How do you do it?!?!?

Jessica - posted on 02/21/2009

I had the same concerns as you are having before going back to school. I was a stay at home mom, and very used to always being with my children. Going back to school has always been something that I have wanted to do, and one day I just decided that it was time. It can be tough at times, and it took some time for all of us to adjust. Things did smooth out, and things always have a way of working out. I am so glad I did it not only for myself, but also for my family. You should just go for it!! You will be glad you did.

Melissa - posted on 02/21/2009

Well I am a single mother of 31/2 year old twins and i go to school full time (Junior) and work about 30 hours a week. I do it because I have to. I am not receiving child support (he disappeared again). I should finish school with my masters degree when the kids are starting kindergarten. Right now they spend a lot of time at daycare and I get to see them at night and on the weekends but I know by doing this now I will be better able to support them and provide everything they will need later on. Even with all of this I am still managing a GPA of a 3.25. It can be done but you have to make sure you are dedicated to your schooling otherwise you are just wasting your money. My kids will always come first but i look at it as benefitting them in the long run. Monetarily and as a role model. I can tell them I went to college as a single parent in my late 20s early 30s and still managed a B average. You can do anything you set your mind to.

Tia - posted on 02/19/2009

I'm a mother of two and I'm twenty one years old. I took two years off of school after graduating highschool when I had my daughter. In fall of 2007, I started back in school at GTCC as a transfer student. I thought things were going to be tight and really hard but in all truth, It's not as hard as you anticipate or as hard as anyone tells you it may be. I won't lie to you, there are hard times but with a good set of hands to help you'll be fine. If you dont have any source of help, mother in law or your own mother- family in general, as an extra set of hands to help, than you may want to consider, online classes at a school. Just take the classes you need at the moment until your child is old enough to go to school or until you can afford to get a babysitter.



I do online and some on campus classes. I am a full time student and mother to my two kids (2yrs and 1yr). My mother in law watches the two while I have class on campus and the rest of it, my two other classes, I have online. I usually do homework after I lay them down for their naps or after they go to bed- thats usually when i get my study time in. You could always keep your child in the room with you with a snack or in a play pen with his favorite toy. Something like that always helps.



If I can do it, anyone can. If you need more help with anything, I'm ALWAYS to talk, give advice or being a lending shoulder. always.

Heather - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi! I work full time ant go to school in the evenings. I have 3 school aged daughters. Online classes are great if you stay on top of them. Right now I have 2 online classes and 2 classes that meet once week for 3 hours each. The one thing that has helped me the most is having a great support system. My husband, mom, sister, brother, boss, friends, and even my kids support me by helping out whenever they can. They are always there to encourage me to continue on no matter how hard or frustrating it is. Sorry this was so long!

Louise - posted on 02/17/2009

hi im louise im studying 4 exams in june n get loads of work to do at home, which is really hard when u got 2 kids n dinner n cleaning to do wen u get home but u get used to it once u get into a routine. im gone half 9 till 4 so miss the kids in the day but we have gr8 weekends together n stuff.

Christina - posted on 02/16/2009

I currently take online courses as well as work forty hours a week. Thankfully I have a great support system in my husband. He helps take care of the girls so that I can have class time as well as homework time. It also helps that my classes are in the evening after they go to bed. It can be stressful at times but in the end I know it is worth it.

Amy - posted on 02/16/2009

I started with online classes at the local community college just to get my feet wet.  It was easy to do those classes when my kids were napping or my husband had them.  Then I started taking one live class a semester around our schedules.  Now with one in kindergarten and one in preschool, I go full time to school and do homework before they get home or when they are sleeping.  My suggestion is to start slowly but you would be amazed at what you are capable of :)

Amanda - posted on 02/13/2009

I know a lot of people want to continue their education and to be honest, the best time to do it is when you are on maternity leave. The only issue is you can only take up to 9 hours of classes a week and you can't use daycare or you get cut off from EI. My fiance also works full time and to be honest when ones on EI you can't sacrifice income. I commute with a friend of mine an hour to school 3 days a week. Unfortunately she broke her ankle and is in a wheelchair, but we still do it anyways. I bring my 8 month old son with me to school and my friend watches him outside my class until I'm finished. There are some classes I'm able to actually bring him in with me. Most professors and teaching assistants seem to be okay with it as long as your baby doesn't bother the class. For one of my classes I was actually able to use my son for a presentation on infant visual recognition. Just remember, if you have the motivation you can do anything you put your mind to. Bringing your baby to school with you allows you to save money, and also you don't need to leave him/her somewhere with someone you don't know and he's always close by. Doing assignments is another issue, I usually do them at night once the baby is asleep. To do this I had to eliminate a social life, but at this point, getting my masters and a solid career is more important for our family than going out to party.

Itsamystery - posted on 02/13/2009

I do it with lots of help from my mum, hubby and mother in law. You have to limit your social life during semester and be prepared to let the laundry pile up when assignments are due!! I found it got harder the older my son gets because he a) sleeps less and b) needs much more of my 100% attention!

Tammy - posted on 02/12/2009

You can do it! Online classes work best to get you going, and than when you feel comfortable taking campus classes than you will know more or less what and how to deal with it all. Its never going to be easy going back to school, but it is well worth it. I have been back in school since June of last year. Yes, my son is a bit older (turning 7 tomorrow), but its the momma syndrome I suppose. Anyhow, I do really hope you go back to school. You will be glad you did in the long run! Take care!

Lana - posted on 02/12/2009

I have a 2 1/2 year old, work full time and have a husband who works nights..and I still manage to go to school 4 nights a week at my community college and pull off all A's ( so far lol )... It was VERY hard to start but then you get into a grove like everything else and it just works.. I study/homework when my son's sleeping and I still get to spend time with him on the weekends, cause I ONLY study when he's sleeping.. I'm so glad I'm doing it. and you will be too :)) what ever anyone sets their mind to, they can accomplish it. Good luck to you:)

Miranda - posted on 02/12/2009

I take two classes a day, drive back and forth each day. My mom watches my son 3 days a week and he goes to the babysitter 2 days.  They only watch him about 4 hours a day, so mornings before i leave and afternoons I get to spend time with my son.  Then I work 3 nights a week.  Then routinely I put him to bed and do it all over again.  Homework is either done ahead of time, while he's napping, or when he's in bed.

Rebecca - posted on 02/11/2009

Im sooo happy to hear that I can be a mom and student!!!!

Thank you every one for replying to me!!!!

Luci - posted on 02/11/2009

for me it works perfectly! my partner also works full time and we were worried about how it wouls work the financial aspects etc at the moment i have lectures two days a week on these days my son (Joshua 1 and 10 months) attends nursery (which he LOVES) i get help with my childcare costs from my local authority (they pay 80% of the costs obviously i live in england and you may live in another country but its worth findin out!!) i pay the rest with my loans. i volunteer for SureStart 1 full day a week as part of my 'works placement' (i am a health and social care student) and my partners mum takes him for me then (i am lucky!) i do my reading/research/assignments when my son goes to bed (7pm every.single.night!) and as my partner does not work weekends i sometimes study on a weekend and my partner takes my son out. im lucky and it does not work like this for other student mums i know and its hard keeping it all afloat... being a mum, student, housewife, partner. but if you get the balance right and you have an understanding partner to support you (because inevitably somethings gunna suffer) you should manage fine! you just gotta want it enough. hope this helped... good luck xx

Valerie - posted on 02/11/2009

its not very easy to study and do homework...but i know i need to do it so i just do it..it can be VERY stressful at times though. and im doing good...but i think i could be doing better if i wasnt a mom, but i wouldnt have it any other way..

Guggie - posted on 02/10/2009

Online courses-check them out! If you're worried about quality then look for a regular campus that offers plenty of online courses.

The only way I can do what I do is thanks to the internet. I can work at home and school at home. Haha, my 3 month old loves the keyboard...I wonder why!

Stacey - posted on 02/10/2009

I take mainly online courses. You can do it at your convenience without worrying about driving to school, finding a sitter, ect. I do my work when they go to bed, playing by themselves, etc. It is hard but if you make it a priority then it's possible. Plus, my husband is very understanding and he occupies the kids in the evenings alot so I can do my homework. Online classes are great!