For student mothers?

Question

How do you combine studying and childcare? Is it worth it in the end?

I am going to a graduate school for a full semester. My baby will be born January '08. I am not sure what to do. Continue part-time (independent study done mostly at home) or take a year off, and then go to school part-time. Maybe I should give up school overall and resume after baby grows up?
What are your thoughts, I am lost.

I will have no real job after baby arrives. My only job will be taking care of it. :-) :-) :-)

Answer 1

I'm a college professor and I know any number of women that choose to continue their education after having a baby...and I know others that choose the other routes. I've had students deliver their baby in the middle of the semester and take just a week to recover before returning to class...in fact, I know one student that went in to labor during the final exam (and still managed to finish the exam AND get a good grade).

I was in the classroom (teaching) until the friday before I delivered and only took maternity leave because my boss insisted on it (I was NOT happy with him but that's a different story). I returned full time the following semester.

Is it worth it...I say yes...education is a great thing for you and for your child. My father was a full-time grad student when I was born and my mom pursued her graduate degree as soon as he finished.

Having said all that, you are the only one that can decide what is best for you and for your child. Having a baby doesn't preclude finishing your degree. You might need to take off the Spring 08 semester to focus on your child (esp. if this is your first child), but many schools offer child care and other assistance to help you continue, even full-time if you wish.

I can tell you that it will be somewhat easier when you and your child are both young than when your child gets older or when you become 18 years older than you are now (if you wait until he/she is grown)...but I've seen that work too! I'm a single mom and I had no problems holding down a full-time professor's job when my son was a baby...it is a lot more challenging now that he's six because of the demands on my time (little league and other sports, he stays up later and sleeps less, he needs help with his homework, etc...). If I were in your shoes, I'd do as much as I can this Fall, take a semester off and then start back in the summer and try to finish my degree before my child turned 3...that way you'd be ready to go to work with your degree about the same time your child was ready to go to pre-school!

Answer 2

If you're starting this semester, you should be done with school by January.

I believe if you have no job, then you can probably manage a baby + part-time. The thing to consider is, life with a newborn baby is hectic, but they do sleep quite a bit, and don't require constant chasing, so it might be easier to study. If you take a year off, and you've now got a baby who toddles around and doesn't sleep for most of the day, it becomes difficult because you constantly have to keep an eye out for him/her. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons of taking a year off.

Waiting 12-18 years for baby to grow up is a looong time, will you really get the benefits of a graduate degree that far down the road?

Good luck, and congrats. :)

edit: Oh yes, many schools have a nursery/daycare program like the person above mentioned! You might want to look into that as well. That sounds like a good option if you take a year off, as it will give your toddler a chance to be social and interact with other children.

Answer 3

I'm confused. Are you going to graduate school this fall semester, or are you going in the spring semester. If you're just going this fall, then you will be finished in December before your baby arrives (if he/she doesn't come early). If you are talking about going to school in the spring semester, then yes it is possible to continue school with your baby. It will be a lot of work and you will be tired all the time, but if you truly want to do it you should be able to. Since you say you won't have a job, I'm assuming you have someone to help you take care of the baby, so I don't see why you couldn't continue with your school.

Answer 4

Well, to get your education now is good. Because, if you wait until later you'll find yourself 20 years down the road or longer and you still have not gone and will more than likely find more excuses not to go that to go.
Study time will have to do it at an little of an inconvenience. Like: early morning, babies nap time, or after baby is put down for the night. I know what your thinking that's not an inconvenience but believe me it will be.
If your planing to breastfeed you may want to take off one full year or until you are no longer able to breastfeed. Or, if you are afraid of missing important parts of your little one life most collages have a daycare in or near them.
Personally, I would take classes between 8 to 12. Because, that is usually kids nap time. Or if you are planing on daycare pick them up after nap time. An do your school work at school where you have access to professors, labs, study groups, Internet, etc....

Answer 5

Some schools have nursery's for people in your situation. I suggest finish schooling.