30 & Thinking About Going Back to School

My husband went back to school at 30 and became an engineer - it was what he had dreamed of doing his whole life. It was hard but we are both glad hd did it!

I so know what you are going through. We have 4 children oldest 7 youngest 21 months and my husband works 2 full time jobs. It is not fun. We agreed that when the youngest goes to school i am going back to school (i am also 30) but i am thinking of starting now. I am considering massage therapy. I don't think i am to old. I am looking into online classes though. I love staying home with the kids and he wants me home with them also but he works so much that i never see him. I don't really have an anwser for you because i am going through the same thing myself, i just wanted to let you know you are not alone.

30 is not too old to do anything you set your mind to. Research the pros and cons and go for it. I have known a 60 yr old who went back to school to get her HS Diploma and now has her BS...so 30 is not too old.

I think it may be a good idea to wait till your husband is out of school and your kids to be a bit older.

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I agree with your husband on not going bk to work until the baby is in school and then do it PT only so you are at home with your children after school. He sounds like a great family man, hard-working, with a level head. I feel when you chose the role of mom it is the biggest responsibility of your life and taking care of your baby and young child needs to be your priority for a while, not starting a new career by returning to school. I went bk to school in my early 40's to pursue a certificate in another field when my daughter was in elementary school before that I worked PT only once she started school and worked my job hrs around her school schedule. Holding off my wishes to be a good Mom has been the best thing for our family.

It's never too late to go back but I would wait until your youngest has started back to school for a few simple reasons. I started back to school recently and let me tell you it's much easier to study when you aren't having to constantly get up to go see what's going on. reason 2 : If you wait until school starts , you don't have to pay for day care on top of school fees.

I think there are (at least) 2 issues here. The first is "is it too late to go back to school?" and I think pretty much every one agrees that it is never too late to go back to school. The second is the communication problem with your husband. It sounds like you and he are in different places about what your life is like. You said that you want to help out with the finances, but are you going to make enough money with school fees and daycare to make it worth it? How much daycare is your baby going to be in? Can you go to school and/or work at night or on the weekends? Sit down, and figure those things out, and then have a discussion with your husband. Show him your plan, and see if he agrees. But this has to be a decision you two make together.

Unless you're planning on dying soon, you've got a good 40-60 years in front you. Seems like a good working life. If you were 85 and looking at going to school I MIGHT see an issue with it, if you were trying to change careers.

I started school when I was 23 (and kiddo was 2 months old), am currently 31, and will be in school for a minimum of 5 more years. So I'm a bit biased.

I have to say I LOVED being in school when kiddo was little. 4-10 hours a week away from home & $1000 a month in financial aid, most of that in grants... and the loans @ 3% (which is essentially "free" money... since that's inflation)

First of all, to answer your question... No, 30 is NOT TOO LATE to make career change, to learn a new skill or to try something different. I left my corporate career when I was pregnant for the first time (at age 32). After one full time semester on campus, I have taken a number of on-line courses and am now ready to do my student teaching whenever I am comfortable that our children are old enough.

Secondly, have you thought about a short term compromise like selling Mary Kay, Avon or another skin care line? That way you can start to work in a make-up related field but you can set your own schedule in a way that may better fit with your "maternal career" for the next couple of years. I write this knowing that many people (me included) are not cut out for direct sales, but it's just a thought...

Regardless of where you're leaning, I recommend that you
- Make sure you understand where you're heading, asking questions and maybe even shadowing someone in your chosen career path to make sure it's what you want, including the work, the interaction with others, the ability to manage yourself or find someone you want to work for, the hours, attracting new clients, etc.
- Do your homework, understanding what type of schooling you need, where and when you can take classes, and what school is best for you.
- Really look at the whole financial picture to make sure that what you would earn would more than cover your education costs, travel and child care expenses, and business expenses (start-up and ongoing supplies or any other hidden costs to do what you want). Many people think that they will be helping the family budget but are barely over break-even in the long run. Also, will your increased income really permit your husband to cut back on his hours or is he in a job that requires he work the hours that he does?
- Make sure you're being honest with yourself about your reasons for returning to work. Is it really just the finances or are you looking for more fulfillment, a different type of challenge or simply more variety to your daily life? All of these are valid reasons to make a change, but it may or may not need to be a full-time job.
Once you are sure that you're honest with yourself and have all of the results of your homework, then you can have a better conversation with your husband about how you'd like to proceed. That way you are both comfortable that the children will be in good hands, that your career change will truly make you happy, and that you have a path to get there. Sorry for the long-winded answer, but it's better to do the research now than to make a switch that doesn't make anyone happy in the long run... hope you find what you need :)

If that is where your heart is, then stick to that idea. Keeping a secret from your husband is not a good idea. But try looking up when the classes are offered. If there is a morning or evening option and it is not too long, maybe you can work something out.
Age is not an issue, but the marriage communication is. =)

I think it's a great idea. And the best part is that you can have flexible hours. Perhaps do hair at night and on weekends. set up a home station or even go to people's homes during after work hours when you husband is home to watch the kids. Sounds like a great way to make money. Then you can do FT once the kids are in school. Gor for it - and good luck!!

Hi, Trisha:

Do you have a reliable nanny for your children?
If you do, go for what your love is.
Good luck. D.

If you go to cosmetology school, I would definitely make sure there is a hair component. My sister went for esthetician/skin-care/make-up and has yet to find employment beyond freelancing. However, with doing hair you can work everywhere and anywhere. (You may even want to start your own business doing hair in clients homes). I would have paid a mint for this when I first had my baby and couldn't get out of the house! Plus- now my Grandmother is in the hospital and is dying to have her hair done.... You could probably really make a mint and work later hours if you do your own thing. (You may want to check with hospitals, rehab. centers/nursing homes......and advertise to new moms that stay-at-home and have no time to get out)

Good luck! With doing hair, there's ALWAYS a need. That's recession proof... My hair stylist (who owns an Aveda salon in Miami) told me that women are saving money on skin care (doing it at home), but are still spending money on their hair.

I say go for it. Things always seem to work themselves out. I had my first child at 21 and decided, at 23 with a 2 yr old, to go to school and become an LPN. When I applied for the program they only offered a full time day program, I had no idea how I was going to do it with my husband at work m-f, but I thought I will apply and try my hardest to figure it out. That year, once I was accepted, they did a part time evening course for the first and last time ever. I went to school a total of 2 1/2 yrs part time. I am so glad I did it then b/c now, not only is there no evening option, but as life goes on these things just get harder and harder to schedule in or pay for. It was not always easy and for a while it felt like there was no end in sight, but now that I look back the time flew by and I sort of miss the people and excitement of school. I feel proud of myself for setting a goal and achieving it.

there are a lot of ways to go back to school online, check out your community college, locally, or nationally - a good national one is ccconline, they have a flat rate of $250 per credit hour no matter where you live, I am 36 and am going back to school to do my nursing degree, i have a 2 yo and a 7 yo, and I am doing all my prereqs online in the evening.

good luck!

I just wanted to add also, that my husband was dead against me going back to school, until the kids were both in school - but then I would be almost 40 starting out!, he is much happier now I can do it online for 2 years, then I will have to do the final 2 years in school, but your hubbie may be happier if you do an online course.

You are never too old....go for it!

It is never too late to further your education. As long as you have the funds and the desire, go for it. I am 27 with a 3 year old and 3 month old and I will be pursuing my second degree in the fall. Who can say of it is a good career path? I already have a college education that isn't doing me a bit of good at present but I am hopeful that my next degree will work out better. Good luck.

It is never to late to go back to school! I plan on going back in the next three yrs to get my RN and I will be 28 at that time. I dont think you should have to wait till your kids are both in school. plenty of moms work outside the house and have their kids in daycare. I don't want to put my in daycare till at least the age of two but you need to decide what is right for you. oh and dont compromise your choosen career you will regret it latter

Maybe if you and your husband talk about it a bit more, you can come up with an agreement on attending school. Maybe show him some concrete examples of programs you could do that would minimize the time you spend away from the kids, but maximize your education. I personally wouldn't go for it without my husband's support, but he usually comes around if it's something I really want to do and can show him specific scenarios. Maybe if you express how much you want to help your family get out of debt, he may warm up to the idea. My hubby and I both supported each other during some schooling and my husband finished when my oldest was one. It wasn't easy, but we are glad now we did it. Good luck!

I went back at 29 only to discover I was preggo with number 3 two weeks before the semester started! Hard, absolutly. I finished the year with my baby being early and he was eight weeks old at the end. I'm out for the summer, taking a semester or two off, and will be returning---again--- at 31. Never to late!!!!

Do it. You'll be an accomplished stylist by age 35. Still young. You can increase your hours over the years as the kids get older and you won't have to worry about school later. If your husband has to work that many hours, you do need to bring in more money for yourself and your family. You need something to fall back on as well in case anything happens to him. You will be very frustrated having a talent for this but lacking some credits and holding yourself back. Parents have always had to work throughout the ages-it's good for kids to see mom working (to an extent-not always gone of course). Hairstyling is flexible. My stylist has 3 kids and LOVES having clients and her own shop as well, and the kids love the shop and have a great play area there. I'm a SAHM mom right now, but my husband's salary allows it, and I have years of work behind me that I can go back into at any time for security. Advance yourself, you deserve it, your kids deserve it!