Any other student mom's doing distance/online courses?

[organic-momma]

I'm working on obtaining my Holistic Nutrition degree by distance courses (the school would be a 2 hr round trip to attend classes). I started in January - then a week later found out I was pregnant, my DH got laid off, and I ended up going back to work full time until August (prior to this I was a SAHM). So I have gotten myself VERY behind on school work. I can get a year long extension to finish my classes (in which case I would have until January 2012 to complete them). I am having such a hard time finding the time to do my studies!

With 3 kids to care for, and a house to maintain - how do other mom's do it? Do you set a schedule of how many hours you're going to do for schooling and when? Do you get child care? Looking for any advice you can give me to get and stay motivated and get my school work done!

[studentmomma]

I'm a bit new to it... and I only have one (and one on the way) but... I just let the housework slide, I've really just had to lower my standards if I want anything done for school. Also, I do have help (thanking my lucky stars that my mom lives close by) to watch DD during the day. I do have a schedule but sometimes life happens and I'm up late getting things done...

Definitely interested to see what other moms have to say as well. Best of luck to you!

[Ornery]

My evening time, every night is devoted to my homework and online classes (although I am constantly interrupted by the little ones, even after bedtime). This gives me a good 3-4 hours a night, which I find to be plenty (so far). I do housework, grocery shopping, laundry, meal planning etc. during the day now where I used to do it all at night after kids were in bed. Some things do slide (says the woman with three loads of laundry to fold), but I use weekends to really catchup. For me, I end up staying up late most nights to get everything done on time. I've trained myself to function on little sleep and it works out alright for me. However, this is my first term back to school so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

[FourTrees]

Oh man - I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew this semester. I only have three classes, but two of them are difficult (for me) and time intensive. I have algebra, biology and gender psychology. I will admit that usually I make A's with little effort simply because I like to write. However, that doesn't help me with algebra and biology and I am finding it difficult to arrange the time I need for the classes. I am so glad I listened to my advisor when he recommended only three classes for this semester, which is standard for the distance program I am using.

I am single, with three children ages 9, 7 and 11 months. My original plan for this semester was to complete all assignments and study during the time my daughters are away to school. That was before I realized I would be caring for my 5 month old nephew while his parents work.... So, my classwork is being pushed to after bedtime, which does not work well for me at all. I do not function mentally after bedtime because I am exhausted by dinner with two babies...

I have no support. I have asked my mom for help with the children so I could study a little or even have a break to go out to dinner (I am almost always at home my only social contact seems to be facebook these days). Her response, "you will have a break when your children are grown." Thanks for the support mom!

You asked about schedules - I had planned to try implementing this, but honestly I'm no good with schedules. If I schedule something, the baby needs something and I end up getting stressed. So, what I've began doing is grabbing each tiny moment I can in hopes that by the end of the day I'll have accumulated something of worth. I leave my algebra homework window open on my computer and work that as he nurses throughout the day. Or, in the past I usually did reasearch and essay writing in one lump period of time. I'd sit down and a few hours later have a finished product. That no longer works. Now I am learning to begin the research earlier and do it in bits and pieces while nursing or having a break. I am a huge procrastinator, so maybe this plan will help me learn to be proactive and get started on things without the intense pressure of a deadline that I seem to need?

[ShyDaisi]

This is my first week, so it is kind of hard to tell...I am a single mom to a very energetic toddler, so accomplishing anything during the day is pretty difficult. I start a new full time job next week and plan to utilize my lunch time for reading. Mostly I envision my coursework being completed after bedtime. I thought that the most difficult class I am taking this semester would be my medical terminology class, however, my communications class looks like it is going to beat it out by a landslide. I am glad I am only taking 3 classes this semester.