I'm a confused stay at home mom........?

Question

I'm a 25 year old stay at home mom of three kids . two are in school while my 2 yearold stays home with me. Here is my problem... I have been going to college I was 18 off and on. I'm currently majoring in criminal justice and like it except that i dont even have my assiocates yet. I was trying for my bachelor degree. this would mean 3 more years at least before i finish. My family and friends keep encourageing me to change to nursing and forget criminal justice. I do highly enjoy health and i had wanted to go into it once before but shyed away from it. This was because i had heard it was highly difficult to get into. Even if i did go to nursing school i cant leave my daughter to be at clinicals and class. I've been taking classes online. Nursing would'nt allow that but i would finish in one year. I cannot afford daycare.what direction should i go? or should i wait till my 2 yearold starts school? I would then be 30.

Answer 1

For starters, Nursing is a terrific occupation! Get your nursing degree and move to British Columbia.... we can't seem to find enough nurses to hire here!!

With that said, consider this:

Your 2 year old isn't going to be 2, or 3, or 4 ever again. Personally, I think you should stay home with your daughter until she's in school. You will never be able to get that time with her back.

I stayed at home with my kids until they were at school. I even decided to NOT put my youngest in preschool just so I could spend more time with him (he's now in grade 1, and academically ahead for his age!). I do not regret, for one moment, all the time I spent with my kids. Now, they're all in school ALL day, and the house is so nice and quiet!!!

If you were to wait until your daughter is in school all day, you would only be 30. 30 really isn't that old!!! I'm 33, and I feel like I'm just starting my life :-D If you were to go to Nursing school when you were 30, you'd be finished while you were still in your early 30s, and you'd have a good 35 working years in Nursing. Plus, you'd have the satisfaction of having spent precious time with your daughter.

Nursing school will always be there. Your daughter won't.

Good luck! It sounds like you have a tough decision to make. By the way you talk about your daughter, it sounds like you're a great mom!

Answer 2

This decision to put your child in the care of others is a hard one lots of mom's have to make. Remind yourself that you've had two great years at home with him or her. You need to think of the future of your entire family and studying to have a successful job improves the whole family's lives. It's a hard decision but if you do the nursing school, you'll honestly be set for life. If you major in Criminal Justice you won't graduate and fall into a job, unless you want to be a cop or parole officer. You may just end up being a secretary with a criminal justice degree. (i ended up in this boat myself...just not w/ c.j.) On the other hand, there is a huge nursing shortage across the country so there will always be demand and really good pay. (like $30/hr to start in my neck of the woods!)

Answer 3

Criminal Justice is a dead field. Two people I know graduated over a year ago with Bachelors Degrees in Criminal Justice and have yet to land a job in their field.

Nursing is a booming field, but beware. It is very competitive to get into a program, and once you're in, you have to be ready to dive in head-first. It will take everything you've got, and from how you've made it sound, your children take up most of your time and you wouldn't have the ability to devote the necessary time to getting through a nursing program.

If I were you, I would take a 4-6 week Nurse's Aide course. At the end of it, you can become certified (your employer usually pays for it) and get a job at a Rehab facility or a Nursing home. Here in Michigan, the pay is around $10.50-$11.50 an hour. Then if you still are interested in Nursing, Nurse's Aide work will give you a really good idea of what you'd be getting yourself into.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Most community colleges have childcare centers on sight at free or reduced prices for students. Send your two year old there and take some classes toward your AA while your older kids are in school, then increase your load (or transfer to 4 year school) in three years when the baby goes to Kindergarten. You may also find another mom with whom you can swap childcare.

as to your major, follow your heart, and do what YOU want to do. The job market is ever changing and many people end up in jobs not related to their major. 30 is not too old to start a career, so take your time.

Answer 5

Nursing will be a lot better for you and your family than criminal justice. The benefits are unbelievable and nurses are ALWAYS in demand, plus you make great money! Now, depending on where you live, you can get assisatnce from the government with free medical benefits and childcare assistance according to the number of people in your family. It's called Medicaid. I am also a stay at home mother as of 2 months ago. I applied for the government help when I was pregnant and they paid for all my medical bills including hospital because I was out of a job and not able to work. I could get help with paying for childcare, but right now im just staying home and watching the baby myself. So unless your husband makes a ton of money, im sure you will qualify. Look into that, seriously. On top of getting discount to free childcare, you can get medical benefits too, especially since you have three children and don't work outside the home. I have found it to really help.

Answer 6

If you absolutely have no childcare for you 2 year old, then I guess you have no option but to wait until she is is school. It is totally ok to start nursing classes when you are 30. Im a nurse. I know first hand, that there is always a shortage, and there will be a nursing shortage for a looooong time. You will always have a good paying fulfilling job if you get your RN/BSN. I would consider taking a nurses aide course, which I believe is a six week course (part time) and see how you like being an aide. If you do, then when your child is in school, get registered for those classes! Good luck.

Answer 7

I would encourage you to go into nursing. You should check into your local city college to see if you can qualify for daycare on campus while you are in school. If you plan on waiting until you are 30 that is still not too late. I know people going back to school in their 50's. I know how hard it is. I am currently a nursing student a full time mom and work full time Also I am expecting my second child. I will be going on unemployment when I get to the clinical portion of class which is only a year away for me. I wish you the best of luck. Its tough but worth it in the long run..... Not to mention rewarding

Answer 8

I'm starting university this year myself, my son will be three and I'll be having my 2nd in August.

Don't be afraid to start at a later time! 30 isn't too old, so don't let that put you off. Ultimately, you should do what you feel will bring you the most satisfcation and security.

If your family are so keen to encourage you, perhaps they could offer solutions to your day care dillema? Could your parents, aunts, cousins etc look after your daughter?

Good luck!

Answer 9

I am a single mom of a 3 year old boy. I am 30 years old and I just started going back to college. Try taking night or weekend classes. I go at night for 4 hours a day 4 days a week. try some of the career college. I attend sanford brown and I love it. Flexible classes etx. They have criminal justice. medical assisting, cvt. ultrasound program. Its accelerated progrrams so it takes less time to graduate. look into it it may be worth your while. it was mine. best thing i ever did!!!

Answer 10

I'm 25, stay-at-home, two kids, going to college since '98 on and off, first wanted criminal justice, then switched to accounting, so I kind of know what you are going through. I would say follow your heart first, you have to like what you are going to do. Then try to work around what means more to you. You are still young. If you decide that you have nursing or c.j. in sight, keep your eye on that. Then slowly, if that is what you have to do because of finances, kids, family, work towards that goal. You CAN do it. Trust me.