Women are extraordinary in every role they play. Whether she is a homemaker or a working mom going back to school, there is a fair share of challenges waiting for her. Nonetheless, as more and more women step out to fill challenging yet successful roles, the more empowered others feel to make it work. The same goes for those commendable moms returning to education despite the break and the additional responsibilities of raising kids. The hardest thing for a woman is to leave her children behind, but as you go back to education, you will have to prepare yourself to deal with problems associated with this mammoth change.
Returning to education? Watch out for these problems:
Going back to school may be one of the most stressful times for working and stay-at-home moms. It is a significant change to prepare and avoid a messy and stressful routine for you and your family. With that said, here are some problems you, as a mom, might encounter while going back to school, along with some handy solutions.
Problem 1: Getting Back to Routine
You and your family’s daily routine is the first thing that shows obvious signs of being affected by you returning to education. Moms have this superpower where they have everyone’s routine embedded in their minds like a code that helps them with multitasking. It includes everything from waking up on time to when everyone is out the door. However, with moms going back to school, it can take up to days or even weeks for everyone to get used to the new routine. At times you might be busy doing a last-minute assignment while your kids and partner wait for dinner. So, what to do?
Solution: Take Things One at a Time
For starters, slow down, relax, and stop trying to multitask. To get back to your family’s regular routine, start by eliminating unnecessary tasks and pushing them on weekends. Or begin assigning tasks to other responsible members of the household. Make a planner or a to-do list for everyday tasks and pin it where everyone can see and follow it. Get rid of anything that takes too much time in the mornings, for instance, fancy breakfasts. Try taking down mammoth tasks such as laundry, prepping meals, and cleaning on weekends, leaving time for essential tasks on the workdays. And while you create your planner, don’t forget to include study hours.
Problem 2: School/Life Balance
With education, children, family responsibilities, and work in one cocktail, it can seem almost impossible to maintain a reasonable work/life balance. Signs of stress may start to show after a few weeks as you try to juggle between studies and daily chores. Add work-related tasks, and it’s a pressure-cooker waiting to explode. The stress builds up when things get out of hand, affecting your ability to return to the books and focus. So, how does a mom manage to work, take care of kids, and return to education?
Solution: It’s All About Management
In terms of managing studies when the situation at home seems impossible, one of the best options is to look into online programs. Many reputable universities offer online programs that are flexible enough for students to manage workload from home and on their schedule. For managing things at home, you can think about bringing on some extra pair of hands, whether they are in the form of a babysitter or house help. At this point, where your plate is full, you can outsource some of the household tasks which don’t necessarily require your physical presence. You can switch to online shopping and other services to save valuable time lost while doing things like grocery.
Problem 3: Choosing Your Major
Returning to school as a mom is a big challenge, but having trouble deciding your major can complicate things. As a mom looking to juggle studies, family, and work, you need to do a lot of self-reflecting for choosing a major, especially if you are continuing education after a while. You have more at stake as a parent, and if you choose something that you don’t enjoy studying, then it is going to be extremely difficult to manage everything. Plus, what are the market trends? What are people typically learning these days? Where do you picture yourself in the next few years, and what do you want to do with your new degree? These are all crucial considerations that can impact your choice. So, how do you choose a major for college if you don’t know what you want to do?
Solution: Think Concerning Your New Career
Returning to education as a mom means that every decision you make about the program you want to study will heavily impact your new career. Therefore, if you are returning to school but don’t know what major would help you land a stable job, then ask yourself the following questions
- Will it offer financial stability as well as support my family?
- How long will it take to complete, and how much would it cost?
- Will I need training for this new career, and where can I get it?
- Will it work well with my family’s current lifestyle as well as in the future?
Alternatively, you can always choose to study something you are passionate about. Sometimes, the end goal of acquiring education may not necessarily be a pay raise or a new job title, but personal satisfaction!
Conclusion
Age is merely a number when it comes to learning. Whether you are a teenager or a mom going back to school, there is no stopping you from leaping into the next phase of your life. However, it can be extremely tough for working moms to manage their education and their families. To make this transition as seamless as possible, ensure you know the potential challenges you’ll face along with practical solutions to take them head-on.
