School/work/parenting need advice

[babymommy2]

This is our first week back to school for my children and the start of their actiivties and my first week in school in years and years. The week has not gone quite as I hoped. I am looking for practical advice about what worked for you /didn't work when combining school with parenting. I have 2 in school and 1 at home and I am going to school online so I have flexibility there, but also need the discipline to find the time.

did you sneak in studying when the kids we sleeping and while waiting for them during their activities. Were they all in school full time so you had days free or did you use childcare so you could study?

did you end up eating out more or cook massive amounts at once so you had lots of freezer meals? Any tips for running the household more efficiently?

did you keep working as usual or cut down on work?

How did you make it all work?!

[lauren]

I just wanted to acknowledge your post and give it a bump. I haven't done kids and school at the same time but I imagine it is even trickier than kids and working because the schedule changes all the time, and the studying would be tough. I am sure someone will come along with some good ideas soon!
 

[chiromama01]

Hi baby mommy! I haven't done kids and school, but I am self employed, so I know a little of where u are coming from...here.s what I mean: u have the freedom to set your own schedule, but u sill have to get things done. Others around you may think you don't *have* to do as much as u really do and hence don't understand your needs. I would say that if you can afford it, get yourself at least SOME childcare, so u can get some work done on your lessons. Doing it all when the kids are down is impractical and unlikely. I usually cook on the weekend and/or save and freeze as much as I can. I am also a huge crock pot fan.

If it helps, I did watch my hubby get his degree (also online) and I really feel like people don't give online classes enought credit in general. They're often much more time consuming than anyone could imagine, as u are essentially teaching yourself. It take lots of discipline and even more support"

Good luck mama!

[JollyGG]

I'm still figuring it out myself.

I just started classes a couple of weeks ago and basically, I'm just getting a lot less sleep than I was.

I work 8-5. I have a pretty flexable job. While I can't really do my school work while at work I can check online and see see if there's anything new I need to know for my classes and review what I need to get done quickly. So then I have a plan of attack for that evening.

I pick my kids up after work and if I am really behind we eat an easy supper and I let them play with their electronics (kindle, wii, whatever) so I can get on the computer. My husband will also try and keep them entertained if I have to do this. However, I dislike doing that and unless I really have to try and avoid it.

The kids go to bed at 8 and I get a couple hours of school work in.

I end up having to catch up on a lot of school work over the weekend while my husband does stuff with the kids. But it seems to be working so far. However, I'm really only two weeks into classes so we will see how it goes. I'm taking a full graduate course load (so typically less than undergrad) and it's also all online.

I did get as many of my textbooks online so I could read them anywhere. So I do get a bit in while waiting for the kids. However, the one that I need to read the most in I also need to take notes while I read for my own understanding so that means that I don't really get to read it anywhere when I have a minute.

It's requiring a lot of support from my husband with the house and kids.

I don't think I can keep this up for my whole program. However, funding for my job is up next June, so I'll be out of a job then. I'm hoping that I can keep it all together this year and next year can just do school and family, without juggling work too.

I'll also be interested in hearing how others juggle.

[singin'intherain]

I am in my senior year of undergrad, and I have four kids. At this point, three of them are in school all day. My oldest is homeschooling, so she takes classes at a homeschool coop three days a week, comes with me one day, and is on her own one day a week (she's 14). I get most of my studying done between classes, while I'm at school. I catch up on the weekends, and get up early to spend time in the mornings a few times a week. The kids each have a chore for after school, and we all pitch in and clean the kitchen and living room before bed. I do rely on the kids being busy with their own activities quite a bit. We live in an apartment complex with a lot of other kids, so they can spend a lot of time outside playing.

Meals are almost all 30 minutes or less. On the weekends, I make breakfast and dinner, and the kids graze when they get hungry. We eat a lot of baked chicken breast and potatoes, spaghetti, nachos, stuff that's easy to throw together. The kids make their own lunches in the morning.

I have talked up school to them from the beginning, and they are all proud of me and want to help. Sometimes I give a lecture about how I'm only one person, I can't do all of this by myself, and I really need their help. They know I'll be able to get a good job when I finish school, so they're motivated to help me succeed.

You have little kids, so I don't know if any of this helps- but I was in a similar situation when I started, and it has gotten easier as I went along, though my workload has increased a lot. I have learned to be super efficient with how I study.

[Doodlebugsmom]

Originally Posted by babymommy2 

This is our first week back to school for my children and the start of their actiivties and my first week in school in years and years. The week has not gone quite as I hoped. I am looking for practical advice about what worked for you /didn't work when combining school with parenting. I have 2 in school and 1 at home and I am going to school online so I have flexibility there, but also need the discipline to find the time.

did you sneak in studying when the kids we sleeping and while waiting for them during their activities. Were they all in school full time so you had days free or did you use childcare so you could study?

did you end up eating out more or cook massive amounts at once so you had lots of freezer meals? Any tips for running the household more efficiently?

did you keep working as usual or cut down on work?

How did you make it all work?!

I have no idea how I did it (and am still doing it), but I am! When my youngest started kindy, I decided to finish a second bachelor's degree. After I finished that, I decided to go to graduate school and am in a dual master's program. Plus, I substitute teach some. Hell yes, we eat out more! I try to keep it to twice a week, but it is so hard to plan meals, grocery shop, make meals, etc. when juggling kids, school and work. As for running the household efficiently...With the help of dh and the kids, we do pretty well for keeping things up and running and reasonable organized. You just have to delegate! TELL your kids and dh what you need them to do in order for this to work. You can also relax your standards a little, but honestly that has been my biggest struggle. I used to spend hours/day in the kitchen making healthy meals from scratch. Now I usually just cook 3 or 4 nights/week. Soup, sandwiches, fruits and veggies are always available.

I'm doing this all so I can have a career that I love and dh can retire sooner. I'm doing it so we can give our kids the experiences we want them to have. I'm doing this for myself and my family. They need to help! You deserve the same thing. It is crazy at times, and sometimes I just want to quit. I know that isn't what I really want, though, so I keep at it. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. A year from now I'll be a couple of months from graduating. The semesters go so fast. You can do this!

[Ragana]

Originally Posted by babymommy2 
did you sneak in studying when the kids we sleeping and while waiting for them during their activities. Were they all in school full time so you had days free or did you use childcare so you could study?

did you end up eating out more or cook massive amounts at once so you had lots of freezer meals? Any tips for running the household more efficiently?

did you keep working as usual or cut down on work?

How did you make it all work?!

Studying - When my DH was getting his master's, he had the kids, so he studied during preschool/school and at night/on weekends. I am now primarily responsible for our kids (he is at work about from 6am to 6pm) who are both school age and am taking one class per semester plus am self-employed. I study when I don't have paid work, in the evenings, and early mornings on weekends because I wake up earlier. Last year I taught in a language program for kids on Saturdays; I am no longer teaching, but my kids are still attending, so I plan to use that time waiting for them for studying.

Household - I meal-plan for the week, use a crockpot and rice cooker a lot, and make meals that only take 20 min. or so such as pasta and jar of sauce, can of beans and rice in rice cooker, grilled chicken/salad, etc. I would freeze more ready-made meals, but we don't use a microwave, so it's really not much of a time saver. I do sometimes precook beans and freeze those. We eat out sometimes. Last year we ate out almost every Saturday because we were all beat after our Saturday program. Cleaning is a challenge, but DH is really on top of that and has the kids pitch in, too. I do as much as I can while I am working in my home office, mainly laundry and cooking, plus I also run errands during the day.

Work - I am working as usual, but limiting my schedule to only one class per semester so that I can continue doing that. My program is a certificate program, not a degree program, and I'm not in a hurry. My DH had the kids, but did not work, while he was doing his master's.

Good luck!

[Phoenix~Mama]

Honestly, I don't know how I'd do it if I didn't have a flexible job where I can do my online class discussions during work.  I'd be doing more on the weekends, and likely having to get a sitter now and then as my kids often do not nap on the weekends.

I manage to get the bulk of my school work done during my lunch hours at my full time job.  This is majorly helpful.  But still as one person, and juggling it all, we eat out more than I'd like and often have quick thrown together meals... sometimes that is PB&J.  But life will get better.  And I'm doing this to be able to really provide a better life for all of us.