Being a stay at home mom is such an amazing opportunity. However, so is furthering your education. Luckily, it is perfectly possible for moms to do both! There are tons of resources out there to help moms “go to school” while they are able to be home and take care of their children. Going back to school can be really difficult, especially with kids at home. Here are some helpful tips to help you earn your master’s degree while being able to stay home with your kids.
Pick Your Program
Whether you’re looking for graduate degrees in education or working toward your master of electrical engineering, online classes can help provide the opportunity for stay at home moms to take their classes when it is most convenient for them. Not all programs can’t online classes but, they have still been made super mommy friendly. Even if you have to go to class for a few hours a day most campuses offer daycare to children of students and staff at really affordable rates. That way you can be sure to get a good education while knowing that your kids are in safe hands.
Set Up Your Support System
Studying while trying to keep the kids from running amok is nearly impossible. That is just one reason why it is a good idea to set up recurring play dates with friends and family. That way you can have some time to study uninterrupted and really be able to focus. Not only is this a great way for you to be able to get some quiet time, but it also can provide a great opportunity for your parents and siblings to spend some quality time with your children.
Pre-Plan Meals and Snacks
Pre-planning meals, especially ones that can be thrown in the crock pot and forgotten about until dinner, will save you time and mental anguish. Life will be a lot easier if you don’t have to stress about cooking an extravagant meal every night. It is also a good idea to pre-plan snacks. Prepare healthy, kid friendly snacks and store them on the lower shelves of the fridge. This will allow your kids to serve themselves, so that you don’t need to worry about taking time to prepare snacks for them. This can also ensure that your kids are eating snacks that are nutritious and delicious.
Say Yes to TV Time
It’s not ok to let your kids spend 10 hours a day in front of the TV, but when you’re studying for a test, it’s ok to let them have some extra TV time. That way they will be distracted, and you can get some quiet time. Also, having your kids see you take the time to study hard can really have a huge impact on them later in life. If they see you as a hard worker that can be something that they aspire for throughout their entire lives.
Set Goals
It’s important to set reachable goals for yourself while juggling being a student and a mom. No one expects you to have an immaculate house, home cooked meals, perfect kids and straight A’s. However, by setting realistic goals you’ll be able to accomplish everything you set out to do without killing yourself or trying to maintain unreachable standards. All you have to do is make sure that you are doing the best that you can.
Overall, going back to school as a stay at home mom can be crazy, but if you plan it out well and set reachable goals for yourself you can exceed even your own expectations. It really is amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. Going back to school is definitely a challenge, but it will be well worth it in the long run.
