Our Mommyhood

You may have had your life mapped out to the tiniest detail: graduate high school, graduate college, find a great job, get married, have children and grow old with your spouse. No matter how well you think you’ve planned, life can get in the way and bumps in the road are commonly experienced. What if the order of your plan was changed without your input?

If you find yourself in college and expecting a little one, things will change but your dreams don’t have to be altered. Likewise, if you started a family and are now going back to school, you can easily see your dreams come to fruition. With planning and organization, your roles as a parent and student can be balanced; here’s how:

1. Organize

At the beginning of every semester you’ll be a given a syllabus for each class you’ve decided to take. Print out all of your syllabi and sit down with your family’s calendar. Add the due dates for assignments, projects, quizzes and exams right into your family’s calendar. By keeping one calendar, rather than many, you’re less likely to miss anything, either family functions or class due dates.

2. Schedule School Time

Once you’ve penciled in all of your due dates, decide on a school schedule. If you are taking classes on campus, there will be certain days and times that you must attend. If, however, you are taking classes online, your schedule is up to you. Do you have older children? Do you have infants or toddlers? The age and activity level of your children will greatly impact your study schedule. You may find that studying after everyone goes to bed is easiest for you. On the other hand, you may find a day of the week when the kids are in school ad you can get the bulk of your own studying done.

3. Involve the Kids

Do your kids have a set homework time? Why not sit down at the kitchen table with them and do your homework together? You may not get a whole lot done if you have to help your kids with their individual homework but you will get at least some done. Not only will you get some of your own work done but you may find that you kids are more inspired to do their school work if mom, or dad, is doing theirs, too.

4. Schedule Family Time

Scheduling time for the family may not have been something you’ve had to do in the past, but as a student, organizing your time properly is imperative. You don’t want your children to end up feeling neglected simply because of your role as a student. Schedule special time with the family; whether it’s a trip to the zoo or just a fun evening in, spending time with your kids without your nose stuck in a book will go a long way towards maintaining healthy relationships.

School and family can be balanced quite nicely if you make an effort to do so. Organization is the key, so schedule your time wisely! Keep your goals in mind; it will make it easier to stick to your guns on those particularly hectic days.

Alice Kirkland is an advertising writer and mother earning her degree in mass communication to reach more people.

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