Many parents decide to continue or even start, studying
alongside raising a family. There may be many reasons for this. Perhaps they
had their children when they were young and never got to complete their
education. Maybe they went on a gap year and never went back to school. Perhaps
they needed to go out and get a job. Perhaps they just didn’t feel ready or
know what they wanted to do. Whatever the reason behind it, it is entirely
possible to return to education at Norwich
University and raise a family at the same time.
In this article, we look at a few hints and tips that will
help you maintain a balance between a parent and a student and make life just
that little bit more simple while you study.
1) Plan your time
Your time is more valuable than usual when you are studying
alongside parenting, so plan it and use it carefully. At the beginning of the
semester, and then again on a weekly basis, look at all of your deadlines and
important dates. If you have a family calendar, add these in and any other
appointments or things that you need to remember. Once you know what time is
free, you can plan ahead. For example, if you have a particularly busy week
coming up, you can spend some time on the weekend batch cooking and freezing
food, so you don’t have to think about it later on. Planning and preparation
are critical - and will be useful even when you are no longer studying.
2) Delegate and outsource tasks
Now is not the time to be shy about accepting help, taking
shortcuts and delegating tasks to other members of the household. If you have
to occasionally resort to takeout or convenience food when you have a deadline,
then so be it. If you can afford to, hire a cleaner or someone to do your
laundry once a week. If your parents or friends offer to take the kids out for
a few hours, let them! Make sure everyone who lives in the house takes on their
fair share of duties to take the pressure off you while you study.
3) Be ready to study anywhere
When you’re studying and raising a family, the one thing you
are most likely to struggle is time, and particularly the time you feel like
you waste. As parents, we seem to spend an awful lot of time sitting in the
car, waiting for children to finish school, waiting for dance recitals or
soccer coaching to end. That time can be incredibly valuable when you are
studying - if you are ready and have planned for it. Have a bag to hand with
your course books, flashcards, printouts, a notebook, stationery, and a
fully charged mobile device. When you are sitting around waiting for your kids,
pull them out. Can you do some quick research or revision? Use those pockets of
time wisely, and you will be surprised at just how much you can get done!
4) Get the kids involved
Make it a family activity. Can they test you with
flashcards? Can they help you devise rhymes, mnemonics, etc. for learning new
concepts? Children have a fantastic imagination - capitalize on that and use it
to help you on your way. You will also teach them some
good study habits and methods and spend valuable time with them at the same
time.
5) Have a dedicated study space
Sometimes, you will have no choice but to work in a family
space, such as on the couch or at the kitchen table, but having a dedicated
space just for you and your things is pretty important. Ideally, this will be
away from the hustle and bustle. Make sure you have enough space to spread out
your papers and don’t forget to shut or lock the door when you’re not using it,
so little fingers can’t mess with them!
6) Don’t feel guilty
Last, but not least, get rid of
that guilt. Yes, we know you are feeling it, but stop! There will be times
when you need to ask your children to leave you alone and play by themselves.
There will be times when you need to shut yourself away in your room to revise
or hit a deadline. There will be times when you have to miss a recital or a
game. There may even be times when you are tired, cranky, and have next to no
patience. No, it’s not ideal, but rest assured that you are not the first or
the last parent to do it, and ultimately, you are doing this to benefit your
family. Let go of the guilt and give yourself a break. You have got this!
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