Dealing with the Challenges of Going Back to College as a Single Parent

Single parenthood is not easy. Not only do you have to deal with everything on your own, but you also have to rearrange your whole life around your responsibilities. Things that could’ve been easy, like going back to school, for instance, become nearly impossible to imagine when you have a job and a family to attend to. 

However, while it is a difficult prospect, it’s not an impossible one. Plenty of people are in the same situation as yours and are able to juggle both. But none will tell you it is easy. Let’s take a look at how you can deal with the challenges of going back to college as a single parent.

Have a Plan

The most important step is to start with a plan. You need to have a clear idea of how long your studies will take. You will need to look at what your schedule will look like in the next few years and find a way to merge it with your duties and your children’s schedule. You will also need to start looking at people around you for support.

If you’re lucky enough to have close family or friends that can help you with things like looking after your kids, then you need to ask them now. Look at how you can arrange things based on their schedule and make sure that you have their commitment. You will also need to look at other options and factor in costs.

Look at Alternative Learning Options

We would also suggest that you start looking at other options besides traditional courses. You could look at online classes, for instance. These would allow you to get your credentials from home and still keep an eye on your children. This could very well be your best and only option as it will allow you to balance your course load, home duties, and professional duties.

This would be a great option if you are in a field like nursing. The great thing about online nursing programs is that there are tons of different options to choose from. You have all sorts of bridge programs that allow you to jump from a BSN to a doctorate, for instance, or accelerated programs for people coming from other fields. If you want to know more about these types of programs, click here.

Online classes offer great flexibility as well. Some courses allow you to watch lectures on your own time within a specific time frame. This would be a good option for those who don’t have a fixed work schedule. You also have the chance to take your classes on the weekends so you can alleviate your workload.

Make Rearrangements

Speaking of workload, you might have to make adjustments to your work schedule if you want to get a better chance at succeeding. You can decide to reduce your number of hours to a manageable number that will allow you to still take care of your finances, or you might want to go part-time on your studies.

Get Everyone on Board

You also have to make sure that everyone in the house is on the same page and is ready for the changes that will be coming. First, you should not feel guilt or that you’ll be neglecting your children. Remember who you’re doing this for and make sure that they know it as well. Let them know that everyone will come out a winner and that you’ll be able to elevate your family’s standard of living.

This also means that you will need to start instilling discipline and responsibility into your younger children and older ones if they are used to you doing everything in the house. They will now have to pull their weight, so make sure that you hold everyone accountable.

Also, make sure that they understand and respect your study and alone time. Again, don’t feel like you’re neglecting them. They should understand the importance of this and respect it. You also have to let them know when you’re available and stick to a strict schedule so they aren’t afraid to come to see you if they need something. Also, let them know that you are always there if they have an emergency.

Create a Perfect Study Space

If you’re going to be studying from home or doing a lot of work from there, you have to build yourself a nice sanctuary where you’ll be able to work without being disturbed. Try to pick a room that is as remote as possible from the rest of the house. Make sure that you feel comfortable in it, but not too much. If you have too many distractions, you will have difficulty getting work done. Consider decorating it and changing the colours to favor creativity and alertness. Colours like yellow and orange as well as earth tones like green are all great choices.

Take Advantage of Sleeping Times

Your children probably go to sleep before you do, and most likely they get up later as well. These are all opportunities to get some work in. You could start working on important projects or watch lectures when your children are sleeping. You could also try to get up earlier in the morning and get a jump start on the day. And, if you’re up for the challenge, it has been found that the brain is in an optimal state for learning at around 4 to 5 in the morning, so this could be the perfect time to look at material. You have to make sure that you go to sleep early enough, however, or you won’t get the sleep needed to work optimally and stay focused.

These are all things that you can do to be able to go back to school as a single parent and be able to succeed. Make sure that you have everything planned and that everyone in your household is invested in your success.