Vet School as a Single Parent?

[MamaD736]

So I have just discovered that my husband is having an affair.  While that is a topic for another thread, it has lead me to rethink my life plan.  I have been a SAHM for the last 5 years, and I have to get back in the workforce. My problem is that my background is in marine biology, doing field work on boats for months at a time.  Obviously, I can't be doing that with 2 kids in tow.  So I have been doing a great deal of self-discovery and come to the understanding that if I could do anything, and be able to have my children with me, then I would work with animals.  The diagnosing and problem solving involved with veterinary medicine is very intriguing to me.  I have only a few prerequisites that I would need to take, along with taking the GRE's, so I have some time before I can apply to school. In the meantime, I am trying to work through the logistics of going to vet school, and being a single parent. 

I am wondering if anyone knows of anyone who went back to graduate school, particularly med/vet school, as a single parent? How difficult was scheduling care for your children during weekend or overnight on-call rotations?  I think I have the drive and energy to do both school and parenting, I am worried about having to move to my vet school's town, and not have a support system.  

Any information/advice/interesting anecdotes appreciated :) 

[lauren]

I don't have any experience with this and it does sound like a challenge but I wanted you to have a response and to get your thread bumped so others can see it!!

Wishing you well!
 

[34me]

I live in a vet school town and have lived next to vet students for 15+ years. None of them have been parents but they are gone. A lot. There are the classes, the study groups, the bet school obligations like open houses and school programs (at least at ours). Then there are the clinical hours, late nights doing emergency care hours, early morning doing spay/neuters and the weekend stuff. I think it probably can be done but if you are not living in an area with family support I think it would be really really hard. And there is paying for living expences. If it is just something you think would be good and not your passion I would think long and hard. If it would be your passion, go in with the knowledge that you will be essentially loosing a couple years of your kids lives but you will all be richer in the end.