Wow - that is great news that you want to better your education. Do you have family near by who can help? How long do you have to go to school to get the degree? Hopefully your original classes have not expired or anything like that. Would moving to be near family or live with family be an option?
Good luck and keep us posted - sounds like you are going in a great direction. Good to see you back!!
Hi, Savannah, GO FOR IT!!!!!!!! Going back to school as a single mom is totally doable. I am getting a second Bachelor's in a field related to my first. A lot of credits were transferable (even though it was more than 20 years ago) so all I had to take were the major specific classes. I went full time for a while and if the school offered more than one time slot per class I still could, but with 3 kids and working around their activities and my D3 having a harder time with being away from me now I am back to part time. A lot of my classmates are older students, quite a few with families so you are not going to feel out of place.
Going back to school will be great for building back your self esteem, your self identity as a person separate from your X, plus give you a new carreer that will support you and your son. Check out the financial aid opportunities, they are out there for more than the straight from HS Freshman.
You'll never hear me advise anyone against continuing their education! Go for it!!!
I wish I had some advice but I don't, really. I went through school when I didn't have kids yet and that was very do-able. I think going to school with kids is tough. But I know of many single moms who are doing it. It's not easy- but it's worth it, IMO.
I take Independant Study classes whenever possible. They allow for a flexible schedule but require a lot of self discipline. Online classes would also be a good option for the same reason.
I am by nature a night owl more than a morning person so I study and work on projects after my D3 is in bed.
My Mom spends winters here so she babysits once a week. My sons are older teens so they also can babysit when I've had night classes and I try to sign up for night classes that fall on the days my X has the kids, not often possible, but I try. Now that D3 is in preschool I try to get classes offered when she is in school.
I just bought AutoCad so I won't have to be down at the school's CAD lab all the time.
As you can see, time management is key. It isn't easy, but it is sure worth it.
I'm currently going to school (college diploma program) and have taken degree courses as well. I have been going to school since my daughter was 16 mo old.
Time management is totally key!! Unless you are really self-disciplined, I would actually advise against taking online courses. I find when I'm home with my daughter, my school work suffers because I'm distracted.
When scheduling courses, I would suggest scheduling them in a bunch, either in the morning or afternoon or night (whenever you're most alert). It makes it easier to find childcare.
I would also budget in your childcare arrangements at least 2 hours a week to study and catch up on assignments. They don't have to be together -- they could be half an hour a day extra after classes, when you're on campus. That allows you to talk to your teachers/professors and research at the library if needed.
I would suggest not taking a full course load. I was a straight-a student before I had my daughter, and I have good study skills, but even I had difficulty handling a full course load and my daughter. If a full course load is 5 classes a semester, then take 4. It may take you longer to complete, but you won't feel overwhelmed or burnt out, and you will have better marks.
If possible, funding wise, because you've been out of school for a while, I would suggest starting out as a part time student. This gives you time to get the bugs out of your schedule and get back into a student rhythm of studying and doing assignments. I did this when going back to school after 2 years and it really really helped to get back into the swing of things. I did a full time semester right after, and having the bugs worked out of child care and where and when I would study made things a lot smoother for me.
Check and see if there is a mature-student support group on your campus. Mature student doesn't mean old, btw, it just means that you've been out of full time school for a while. I suggest this because you might be able to swap child care with parents among them, or be able to set up study groups that are kid-friendly, and you'll get advise and support from people who've been there. You could also check for a students-with-dependents support group as well.
Um.. I guess the only other thing I would say is don't expect it to be as easy/hard as it was when you first went to school, pre-baby. Some things will be easier, because you've grown up and your priorities have changed. Some things will be harder, again because your priorities are different. I set myself up for a lot of frustration because I expected to have the same success academically that I did pre-baby, and of course that wasn't going to happen because my focus wasn't necessarily on school first, but my daughter first, school second.
Other than that, I fully encourage you!! Going back to school is an awesome thing to do, for yourself and for your child -- think of the example you're setting! Plus you'll get adult interaction and be doing something just for you, which can relieve some of the mommy -stress we all get.
Good luck!!
BTW, I'm a history major/business minor, so if you have any homework questions with those things, feel free to ask! =P
Wow - that is great news that you want to better your education. Do you have family near by who can help? How long do you have to go to school to get the degree? Hopefully your original classes have not expired or anything like that. Would moving to be near family or live with family be an option?
Good luck and keep us posted - sounds like you are going in a great direction. Good to see you back!!
Well, I am not exactly sure how many credits are still needed but that is one of the things I will ask the advisor.
Hi, Savannah,
GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!
Going back to school as a single mom is totally doable. I am getting a second Bachelor's in a field related to my first. A lot of credits were transferable (even though it was more than 20 years ago) so all I had to take were the major specific classes. I went full time for a while and if the school offered more than one time slot per class I still could, but with 3 kids and working around their activities and my D3 having a harder time with being away from me now I am back to part time. A lot of my classmates are older students, quite a few with families so you are not going to feel out of place.
Going back to school will be great for building back your self esteem, your self identity as a person separate from your X, plus give you a new carreer that will support you and your son. Check out the financial aid opportunities, they are out there for more than the straight from HS Freshman.
QueenBun
You'll never hear me advise anyone against continuing their education! Go for it!!!
I wish I had some advice but I don't, really. I went through school when I didn't have kids yet and that was very do-able. I think going to school with kids is tough. But I know of many single moms who are doing it. It's not easy- but it's worth it, IMO.
~shrimpy
~shrimpy
"A man who wants something will find a way; a man who doesn't will find an excuse." ~Stephen Dolley Jr.
~<
Thank you!
I am definitely going for it.
Good for you! OK, for more specific suggestions:
I take Independant Study classes whenever possible. They allow for a flexible schedule but require a lot of self discipline. Online classes would also be a good option for the same reason.
I am by nature a night owl more than a morning person so I study and work on projects after my D3 is in bed.
My Mom spends winters here so she babysits once a week. My sons are older teens so they also can babysit when I've had night classes and I try to sign up for night classes that fall on the days my X has the kids, not often possible, but I try. Now that D3 is in preschool I try to get classes offered when she is in school.
I just bought AutoCad so I won't have to be down at the school's CAD lab all the time.
As you can see, time management is key. It isn't easy, but it is sure worth it.
QueenBun
I'm currently going to school (college diploma program) and have taken degree courses as well. I have been going to school since my daughter was 16 mo old.
Time management is totally key!! Unless you are really self-disciplined, I would actually advise against taking online courses. I find when I'm home with my daughter, my school work suffers because I'm distracted.
When scheduling courses, I would suggest scheduling them in a bunch, either in the morning or afternoon or night (whenever you're most alert). It makes it easier to find childcare.
I would also budget in your childcare arrangements at least 2 hours a week to study and catch up on assignments. They don't have to be together -- they could be half an hour a day extra after classes, when you're on campus. That allows you to talk to your teachers/professors and research at the library if needed.
I would suggest not taking a full course load. I was a straight-a student before I had my daughter, and I have good study skills, but even I had difficulty handling a full course load and my daughter. If a full course load is 5 classes a semester, then take 4. It may take you longer to complete, but you won't feel overwhelmed or burnt out, and you will have better marks.
If possible, funding wise, because you've been out of school for a while, I would suggest starting out as a part time student. This gives you time to get the bugs out of your schedule and get back into a student rhythm of studying and doing assignments. I did this when going back to school after 2 years and it really really helped to get back into the swing of things. I did a full time semester right after, and having the bugs worked out of child care and where and when I would study made things a lot smoother for me.
Check and see if there is a mature-student support group on your campus. Mature student doesn't mean old, btw, it just means that you've been out of full time school for a while. I suggest this because you might be able to swap child care with parents among them, or be able to set up study groups that are kid-friendly, and you'll get advise and support from people who've been there. You could also check for a students-with-dependents support group as well.
Um.. I guess the only other thing I would say is don't expect it to be as easy/hard as it was when you first went to school, pre-baby. Some things will be easier, because you've grown up and your priorities have changed. Some things will be harder, again because your priorities are different. I set myself up for a lot of frustration because I expected to have the same success academically that I did pre-baby, and of course that wasn't going to happen because my focus wasn't necessarily on school first, but my daughter first, school second.
Other than that, I fully encourage you!! Going back to school is an awesome thing to do, for yourself and for your child -- think of the example you're setting! Plus you'll get adult interaction and be doing something just for you, which can relieve some of the mommy -stress we all get.
Good luck!!
BTW, I'm a history major/business minor, so if you have any homework questions with those things, feel free to ask! =P
Unschooling family -- education by experience!
SAHM, WAHM - I
love working from home!
Check out my website -- promises.fourpointmoms.com
"Don't procrastinate. In two days, tomorrow will become yesterday." -- Anonymous
Baby Zarielle born July 22, 2008!