I’m about to return to work but I need a change. I have a prep student (starting 2021) and a 20 month old who starts daycare two days a week next month. I’m in my late 30’s and thought maybe I might try a uni degree. I was thinking of doing a 4 yr degree in social work (due to passion and work history) however it will need to be online and/or part time. I’ll be working 3-4 days a week, run a small business on the side (0-10 hours a week bookwork) plus the family, house etc. my husband is supportive but works long hours himself too. Am I crazy thinking this? Have others done it who could give me some tips? Will I go insane or burn out?
Can I study, work and parent without going insane?
Can I study, work and parent without going insane?
Posted in:
Life Lessons, Self Care, Parenthood Guilt, Education
6 Replies
I studied, worked, parent and did remote learning and went insane but then took a step back and looked at what needed to be done, did a schedule and stuck to it. Good luck. Its not easy but you can do it
You will go insane without outsourcing or having lots of support, it also depends on what hubby does around the house and with the kids. If a kid gets sick or you get sick you’ll fall behind fast.
I’d try part time, if you can manage part time you can always increase your units next semester.
I'm the last person to want to say no you can't do it, but thats an incredibly huge load. Take out the baby and I'd say, "Thats a huge load but if you plan it and sacrifice, you'll get there". With the baby I feel like it's much too much and will end in a breakdown.
I'd suggest cutting down the load, ie) 3 days work and nothing else, when kids go to bed and sleep through. Or I suggest going in very slowly, just probably one subject per semester until you feel like you can handle more.
Maybe wait until the kids are a little older, more independent.
Next year you’re going to have readers, added to your list of things.
Give yourself the best chance of succeeding, by waiting a bit and doing it at the right time.
I know people will say, if you want it, you’ll do it, but there’s only so many hours in a week.
Your kids are so young and need so much from you right now.
Everything gets so much more cruisey when they’re older.
I’m a stay at home mum of a 5, 4, 2 and 10 month old and started my bachelor of social work in 2019. I have a study load of 2-3 subjects a semester and took a semester off last year when I had my baby. It’s hard. I’m loving the content and the learning and having something outside of my kids but it’s a juggle. You have to be really organised because it’s so easy to fall behind - I try and be at least a week ahead. The weekend before an essay is due I pretty much don’t see the kids and my husband is left to it. Although I’m external there are some subjects with compulsory days to attend the campus. There is also 500 hours of prac to complete.
I studied, worked, and had my second baby while doing my uni degree.
You’ll need support, especially during placement times but you can do it for sure. If I could do my time again I would spread my degree over 5 years and only do 3 units per trimester as it was way easier to manage than 4 units a trimester.