Working and Student Mama Here...

[~D~]

Hi everyone!

Are there other mamas here who work and attend school at the same time? I'd like to share my experiences with you all.

I was a SAHM when I decided to go back to school - DD & DS are 12 & 9. With both of them being in school all day, I decided I needed to further my education and finally *do* something with myself. DH & I had been struggling for a long time with both our finances and our marriage... I felt I needed to get an education so I could support myself & LO's in case DH & I split - long story for another thread Anyway, DH was permanently laid off - not long after I started school and was collecting unemployment benefits - until recently I was forced to get a job, and now I work 30+ hrs/wk on top of parenting and school obligations. I have to admit my grades have fallen somewhat - I'm down to a 3.4 GPA It's super hard because I struggle with ADD and stress and lack of sleep really aggravate my symptoms...Thankfully though, I'm done 10/3/2010! I can't wait to get more than 5 hrs. of sleep at once! I usually work late night shift - 6pm - 12:30 or later. Then it's school work and a couple of hours of sleep so I can be up with LO's during the day. DH works part-time for cash so he can be up with them in the mornings that he's home, and it's working out ok.

Do any other mamas out there work and go to school?? How do you manage? I'd love some feedback!

[punkrockmomma]

I'm not in this situation yet, but I'm currently looking for a job on campus. I qualify for work study, and I'm hoping that I can find a job where I can also do homework while I'm working, because I am taking 18 credits (I know I'm crazy!), and it's actually really hard for me to get homework done at home during the week. I have a 3 year old DD who will be at my schools daycare when I'm at school/working. I'm hoping that DP will be transferred from 2nd shift to 1st shift by the time I start school so that I can work in the evenings. The day care is only open until 5:30pm. This will probably mean that DD will be in daycare a lot, this semester, but she loves it there so I'm not that worried about it.

I too have ADHD, and I completely understand what you mean about sleep deprivation making your symptoms worse! The same thing happens to me. That's why I go to sleep as early as possible on school nights. I'm also on meds for it, which are a miracle for me! I had the best semester of my life last semester. Gotta run, I have class in an hour and I need to get a move on. -Nicole

[canadianhippie]

oh man mama D, thats hard, hard work. Ive been a SAHM up until a month ago, I have a part time job where I work just under 20 hours a week, which is reasonable for me, I didnt want to be away from my babe under the age of 2 but I need to get the career going. So i start college in a month and a bit, full time studies and Ill be in school for the next 5 years. Ill post how Im handling it when Im elbows deep in!

[BunnySlippers]

Yup,
Im a solo parent who schools, parents and works I can relate to need.more.sleep.

and relly, I could be sleeping right now, and should be sleeping right now, but Iam so used to gogogogogogo! that it takes me awhile to unwind and drift off.

[BunnySlippers]

Originally Posted by canadianhippie

oh man mama D, thats hard, hard work. Ive been a SAHM up until a month ago, I have a part time job where I work just under 20 hours a week, which is reasonable for me, I didnt want to be away from my babe under the age of 2 but I need to get the career going. So i start college in a month and a bit, full time studies and Ill be in school for the next 5 years. Ill post how Im handling it when Im elbows deep in!

What on earth are you taking for five years worth of fulltime studies?

[canadianhippie]

to be a teacher, you need a undergrad (4 years) then one year of teachers college

[~D~]

Originally Posted by punkrockmomma

I'm not in this situation yet, but I'm currently looking for a job on campus. I qualify for work study, and I'm hoping that I can find a job where I can also do homework while I'm working, because I am taking 18 credits (I know I'm crazy!), and it's actually really hard for me to get homework done at home during the week. I have a 3 year old DD who will be at my schools daycare when I'm at school/working. I'm hoping that DP will be transferred from 2nd shift to 1st shift by the time I start school so that I can work in the evenings. The day care is only open until 5:30pm. This will probably mean that DD will be in daycare a lot, this semester, but she loves it there so I'm not that worried about it.

I too have ADHD, and I completely understand what you mean about sleep deprivation making your symptoms worse! The same thing happens to me. That's why I go to sleep as early as possible on school nights. I'm also on meds for it, which are a miracle for me! I had the best semester of my life last semester. Gotta run, I have class in an hour and I need to get a move on. -Nicole

So what meds do you take, if you don't mind me asking? 18 credits!?!?! Wow, I only take 6 credits every 9 weeks. But still, it's a lot of info crammed into a very short time. I'm going for an Associate's degree in Hospitality Travel & Tourism. I originally wanted to move back to Florida and work on the Gulf Coast Now, I just don't know

Originally Posted by canadianhippie

oh man mama D, thats hard, hard work. Ive been a SAHM up until a month ago, I have a part time job where I work just under 20 hours a week, which is reasonable for me, I didnt want to be away from my babe under the age of 2 but I need to get the career going. So i start college in a month and a bit, full time studies and Ill be in school for the next 5 years. Ill post how Im handling it when Im elbows deep in!

Hey!! Great to see you here!!
You have more motivation than I. 5 years? no way could I stand being in school that long! Good for you !

Originally Posted by BunnySlippers

Yup,
Im a solo parent who schools, parents and works I can relate to need.more.sleep.

and relly, I could be sleeping right now, and should be sleeping right now, but Iam so used to gogogogogogo! that it takes me awhile to unwind and drift off.

ITA! it takes me a long time to unwind enough to concentrate on school... I'm really kind of burnt out on it to be totally honest. I would much rather take classes in a conventional manner and take my time with it. I did not need to be in such a rush to get it done. Oh well, it is what it is and I'm almost done!

[BunnySlippers]

Originally Posted by canadianhippie

to be a teacher, you need a undergrad (4 years) then one year of teachers college

Nice to know you have to be dedicated if you want to be a teacher. Good for you

[canadianhippie]

thank you all, i just feel it all has to be done. I like learning and I am really excieted to be the "fun" teacher, I would love to create a learning environment that is slightly unconventional and less institutionalized. I have my standards for work and behaviour, but after that, anything goes. I like juniors too (ages 8-10/grades 4-6) thats who Im learning to teach, very bright and precocious, you can have a little more fun with them I feel, they grasp greater concepts and are more flexible. I cant wait for the first day of school in "my classroom", lots of music and fresh air, trips, w/e I can fit it and expand the lessons outside the classroom.

[littleaussies]

Hi there, another working/student mother. Well not really anymore because I just graduated! It was so worth the effort!

I am divorced with sole custody of 2 little girls. I work full time, have a part time teaching job (that I can take my girls to) and I was doing 2 years of graduate work for my Masters because my job paid for most of it.

It was really tough some days. But I found that graduate work really fit in well with my lifestyle because it was a lot of writing and I enjoy doing that.
I graduated in May with my Master's in Education so that is opening the door for better opportunities so I don't have to do part-time teaching anymore.
I think it is worth it if you are dedicated. Some things in my life did suffer, like relationships with other people and my house was always a mess.
But now I can work on those things to get back on track to life before Grad work.

In the end, I did it for my children and to prove to my ex's family that I wasn't a failure (like they told me I was when we divorced, long story).
Good luck, I'm sure you will be so excited when you finish!
Jolene

[~D~]

Thanks! I am excited!! At least I know it doesn't last forever, and it WILL pay off in the end! Like you said, I am also 'proving it' to many people (incl. DH's family) that I can contribute. They didn't like it that I was SAHM. I really wish I still could be SAHM at least while I am still in school

[Sierra]

Congrats on being almost done!! Woohoo!

I'll be hopping on this "working and school" boat soon.

In the fall I will take just one class, and will continue working full-time where I am now. Then we move to where my new school is located, and I will have to get a new job but hopefully can manage with part-time. At that time I will take as many classes as I find I can manage...may do part-time and not complete the program in three years, or may do full-time and finish it up in the three years planned.

I'm thinking potentially of avoiding professional work while in school and trying to get a job doing something mindless...or even better would be a job doing something during which I'd have time to study (night security in an office building? toll booth at a slow parking garage?).

I hope I will have a full-tuition scholarship (it is what was offerred to me this year, but I have taken a deferment and have to reapply for scholarships the year I start). However, it won't cover books, fees, or medical. And of course, then on top of that we'll still need housing, food, and the rest of all that kind of stuff. I am really determined to avoid student loans, especially because my ds has special needs and I don't know what his adult future will look like. I don't want to be tied to a loan that will prevent the necessary care for my ds when he is an adult. That said, I wish I could just focus on my studies. I keep dreaming of a scholarship that would cover our living expenses.

[~D~]

Originally Posted by Sierra

Congrats on being almost done!! Woohoo!

I'll be hopping on this "working and school" boat soon.

In the fall I will take just one class, and will continue working full-time where I am now. Then we move to where my new school is located, and I will have to get a new job but hopefully can manage with part-time. At that time I will take as many classes as I find I can manage...may do part-time and not complete the program in three years, or may do full-time and finish it up in the three years planned.

Thanks! It's not been smooth sailing for me, I hope the best for you

Originally Posted by Sierra

I'm thinking potentially of avoiding professional work while in school and trying to get a job doing something mindless...or even better would be a job doing something during which I'd have time to study (night security in an office building? toll booth at a slow parking garage?).

I hope I will have a full-tuition scholarship (it is what was offerred to me this year, but I have taken a deferment and have to reapply for scholarships the year I start). However, it won't cover books, fees, or medical. And of course, then on top of that we'll still need housing, food, and the rest of all that kind of stuff. I am really determined to avoid student loans, especially because my ds has special needs and I don't know what his adult future will look like. I don't want to be tied to a loan that will prevent the necessary care for my ds when he is an adult. That said, I wish I could just focus on my studies. I keep dreaming of a scholarship that would cover our living expenses.

I would try to avoid ANY type of work during studies if you can swing it all, even mindless work that doesn't come home with you takes time away from school. I work fast food at the moment and it is NOT easy. I didn't have to work at all up until now and I surely miss the luxury of the SAHM gig, let me tell ya.

Good luck to you!!

[~D~]