I always knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I vividly remember my kindergarten teacher walking around and making a list with our classmates names and who/what we wanted to be.
I think my friend next to me insisted on being George Jetson, I hope his dreams came true.
For me, it was always a teacher. It was almost as if there was never any other option. I knew I wanted to be a teacher and I knew it was what I was supposed to do. I went to school for a few years after high school like so many others, life got in the way. Babies and babies and another baby! I found myself in the trenches of motherhood and my dream of going back to school a distant reality. Until the day my oldest asked me where I went to college and if I finished my degree…
It hit me like a ton of bricks. No, I had not finished.
And that is when I knew it was time. It was time to get back to it and finish what I had started. It was time for me to live my dream, become a teacher and be able to look at my girls one day and remind them that they can accomplish their goals.
So, here I am in my 3 semester back at school and friends, I love it! Going back to school as an adult with life experiences is the best and it is so so worth it.
It’s so worth it that if you are even considering jumping back into the grind of school I have created 5 Tips for the Mom Who Wants to Go Back to School to hopefully help make your transition easier!
Choose Your School Wisely
Even if you don’t read anything else in this post, read this! You must do your research and choose a school wisely. There are so many options available to further your education but beware. Look into the programs fully and know up front what will be expected of you. Look into your desired field and see if the school you are going to go to is one that is respected and well known before jumping in. I have run into so many moms and adults who have gone back to school and have gotten frustrated with the process. They have gone and taken classes as schools that do not transfer into their degree plan etc. Do your research and know what your long term plan is. Choose a school that will get you to your final goal, your dream job!
Stay Organized
This right here may just be the pot calling the kettle black but stay organized! This one piece of advice has been the hardest for me but it is oh so necessary. We moms are busy busy busy and adding school onto our already crazy lives is hard. I have noticed that the weeks where I stay organized and check off my to-do list one at a time are the weeks where the stress of life do not get the best of me. Your first week of school grab your syllabus and put everything on your master calendar. Schedule out your meals and make sure all kid activities are on the books as well. Go over your schedule at the beginning of the week and schedule everything out accordingly.
Don’t Overload Yourself
When you start back to school you are going to be super pumped and ready to take on the world but slow down! I made the mistake my first semester of thinking I could take way more classes than I actually could. Do yourself a favor and take it slow. Just add 2-3 classes to your schedule and see how you do. Remember you are adding to your already busy schedule and the majority of your school work will be done outside of class time. Ease yourself into, it will be worth it!
Be Clear About What You Need
Every semester I have several a few moments where I freak out. I get overwhelmed with everything going on, I worry about whether or not I am giving me family enough of my time and attention, I decide that I am going to quit because it is all too much etc. Literally, every single semester I do this! But, I have come to realize that if I am clear with my family about what I need and what is going on we all seem to function much better. My kids are proud of me for being in school so when I express to them that I am stressed or nervous about a test they feel invested as well. They get excited when I do well and are the best hug givers when they see I need one. Communicating with the hubs is of up most importance as well. If I can let him know ahead of time what all is on my plate and what is stressing me out he can also plan ahead knowing that I will need a little extra help from him that week.
Have Fun!
Next to choosing a good school, this is the best advice I can give you! HAVE FUN! Going back to school has been one of the best experiences of my life. It is amazing what a few years of living will do for you and how much you will appreciate. Take everything in and live it up! Yes, your “college experience” may look a little different from the typical college life but I promise it can still be fun!
Moms, don’t let yourself fall by the wayside now that you have kids. You are worth it. You are worth living your dreams and you deserve to be happy. Figure out what you want to be when you grow up and go for it! I promise, it will be amazing!
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