Mothers of 3+ Children, College & Working

I do the same thing. My kids are now 8, 6, and 4...but even when they were 4, 2, and newborn I was working full-time AND working on my MBA. I took some time off of my MBA so now they are the ages they are and I have one more year left of my degree...but it's not too much IF it's what you WANT. If you don't WANT to do it all, it won't work. If it's soemthing you want to do for you, it will work fine. Easier to do it now before they get into a lot of activities. Trust me :).

I did it. I had three children under three. I worked full-time and then part time while I did my MBA. it can be a hard slog, and can take a while, but it got me the great job I have now, and was important for me to further my career.

I only have one kid but I go to school full time. Like the other Mama said it's not too much if it's what you really want to do. I will say it's a lot of work juggling kids, housework, and schoolwork. But it's doable. This summer I am taking 2 classes on campus and 1 online. I usually do schoolwork after my daughter goes to bed. My husband takes her sometimes if I need to do stuff during the day (like today they went down the street to the pool while I am supposed to be working on a paper) and he is pretty understanding when housework doesn't get done because I am focused on school stuff. Online classes take a little more discipline than campus classes. There isn't the interaction with other students and teachers that you have with on campus classes plus a lot of my online classes have been here's the work- here's the end of the term- get it all in by then. It's easier to procrastinate with online classes. My advice? Make sure you have a workspace that you can focus on your schoolwork and make a designated time each day or week or whatever that you are going to do work.
Good luck and you can do it! It will be so rewarding- the first time I got an A I was on cloud nine for days! And I made Dean's List last semester- I'm still on that high! LOL If you want to talk more about going back to school feel free to pm me.
*Oh and Sue is right. You'll need your husband to be totally on board with you and totally willing to jump in and help everyday life. I couldn't do it without my hubby's support.

Get school out of the way! Don't look at it as "lack of attention" but rather, sacrifices you are making for your family.

I don't think you would have signed up for classes if you felt your household was out of control.

gl to you mama!

I am a parent and work and have been taking online classes for six years. It is possible to do all these things, but it has required some changes in my life.

My online classes take an average of 10 hours per week each. Does your school tell you what to expect for time commitment?

I completed several classes while working full-time, but typically slept less and gave up a lot of weekend time. I changed to part-time work and that has made my life easier, and allowed more family time and sleep time.

Adding school and work to your life will require the full cooperation of your husband. The two of you will benefit by talking about specific logistics. When will you do your school work? What will this mean that he will need to do? What things will you not do that you do now? How much of a change can your family and your marriage handle all at once? How open will you be to discussing changes in your plan once you are underway, based on how your family is responding?

Hi J., I think you have gotten great feedback. From personal experience, I have 2 children and have been out of tech job for 5 years this fall. Like you, I'm in the mids of filling out apps for MBA for the following year, I am also applying for full time job (my dream and awesome job wich might not come until I'm done with school) Here are my 2 cts from experience:
- talk to people who have gone to school (while having family) it did change my mind in many ways. I was applying to a school 75 mins from my house and trying to go full time. A good friend who took MBA at same school said, "look, I know you, your family is so important, you will not succeed at both at the same time" I live for my kids and strongly dislike any minute away from them.
- find a support system if you don't have it (grandparents are awesome for this, also close friends with who you can trade babysitting), hubby should be on board, etc
- apply for jobs, even if you don't want it or you know you can't take it right away, this will give you all kinds of feelings. You will have th rush of "oh my goodness, I have an interview", it will make you get update for the interview, you will get a recent view of what recruiters and managers are like today
- do not be afraid to change the plan, I personally do not do well with change once I have written my plan. With family as you know you have to be flexible.
- Give it a try and do not feel bad if you need to cut back. Maybe do the 3 online classes (I have done that and most of the work was at night to not miss out on fam but you will cut on resting/ sleeping...) maybe do part time first and see how things go
- get a backup daycare/ babysitter, if you have an interview and all of the sudden your normal babycare is unavailable (grandparents also have needs and appoitnments) but you can't call the job and say "sorry not good today", also for those last days when you have to turn school work, or field work and baby has puked at night, babysitter unavailable, you want to "throw everything out of the window", etc...
- more importantly remind yourself you have made the decisions and even thoug at times they are tough they will be the best for all of you in the long run.

I'm excited and I bet you are excited too. Happy to share similar situations :) hang in there
K.

You have to decide what is the most important to you, Home and family OR career and money. You can do one class at a time on line or two or three. How does your husband feel about it?

Remember, "There is no success that can compensate for a failure in the home." "The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home."

You can do just about anything you want. You just have to decide what your priorities are and if a job is more important than your kids.

Good luck to you and yours.

It's all up to you whether or not it's too much. I have 2.5 year old twins, a two week old, teach full time (going back in Sept), and am currently working on Masters degree #2, starting up classes again tomorrow. Is it too much? Maybe. But, I know I can handle it. Not everyone can.

I am a little confused as to what applying for a really good job means? Does that mean a full time job? Do you have family to help with childcare? You need a lot of support do get a full time job, take 3 classes plus raise 3 children. It's hard enough going from a SAHM to just either school or work. Why not do one or the other and see how that works out? I worked at a college where many students worked, had children, and went to school. It wasn't online but lots of them had to drop out or take leave of absences because it was really hard. They ended up losing lots of money because of it. As long as you have lots of family support then I say go for it. But don't do both at the same time, at least not at the beginning until you feel confident that you can handle it.

I do think you may be biting off a little more than you can chew... and I mean that in a very nice way. I'm assuming you are a young mother, enjoy it! It goes by so fast... school and a job will always be there, there will be another opportunity for an even better job. Smell the flowers, enjoy life! I know you are excited about school and a job too, work will always be there... one day you'll realize you've been working for 10 years and you still have another 20+ before you can even think about retiring and your kids will be more interested in their own life instead of being with mom... (I know for a fact)

I still remember in High School, my dad told me to go out for my favorite sport that I had played for 8 years, and I was so mad at the coach from the year before, that I got myself a job and told him I needed to work instead. He said a job will always be there, this is your last year of High School... He was right, and to this day, I still have dreams of not playing and trying to be on the team... Next year will be 20 years since I graduated, and I've been working for over 20 years and I must say I can't wait to retire some day...

My oldest is 16 and she's making choices that will affect her for the rest of her life. I try to give her the great advice my dad gave me... Just hope she listens...

Enjoy parenthood...