Being a parent and trying to reach your dreams can seem daunting for you to do to yourself once you have kids. But have you ever stopped to think of the benefits going back to school could mean for your family? Growing up like some girls I figured I would go to college and get my career and then not have kids until I was 35! After my first child that was not the plan!

I did live with my parent however, I did not have the support that you would think. My mother made me feel like daycare was the scariest place in the world for a baby. Unfortunately, she would not put forth effort to care for my child while I attended school or work. This made me evaluate everything. I was in my sophomore year of college and just decided to change my major altogether. I went from wanting to be a dentist to medical billing and coding online.Then ended up withdrawing since being a young mother was taking a bigger toll on me than I expected.

3 years later….

I finally decided to go back to college because I knew I had a love for numbers and they always made sense to me. Then, I decided that the best thing for me was to go for an accounting career. I continued taking classes online because it was easier to manage with kids and (now having 3) and my work. I made this decision based on what I really loved to do along with what made me happy to provide a better life for my kids and I. Here I am 5 years later with a Bachelor’s of Accounting degree and in my first year for my MBA in finance. This was a tough decision to make because I know how much time it took away from my kids when I attended school the first time without any support and here I am at it again.

Questions parents ask

Is it selfish that I want more for myself so I can do more for my kids? Am I neglecting the time and attention they need from me by working and going to school at the same time? Will my child(ren) understand that I am only trying to do better so we can live better? Should I just pick one or the other? The questions that are asked when you are not sure if your decision will affect your child(ren) in any kind of way. As a parent we never want to feel like we are making the wrong decision but we always feel like something is never enough. Every parent wants to give their child the world and still never miss a beat in their growing lives.

Making It Work

Since I recently had my fourth child I want to finish my college degree so I can provide for my children. I will finish my MBA in finance online in October 2019 and obtain. Once finished with this I plan to sit for the CPA exam. This way I can provide much more for my kids and I will be completed with the main things that take a lot of my time before my kids get in their teens.

Having set times for my school work is a must. I spend 2 hours a day completing anything to do with class. Whether it is homework, reading, reviewing, or live chat sessions that the instructor gives. This allows me to either do 2 hours in one sitting or an hour in the morning and another hour after dinner. Having yourself on a schedule routine as well as your meals planned for the week can help you and your family. Everyone will know what is expected of them at each specific time. I am beginning to switch our current routine since this summer the children will be home with me. I still need to make sure that I prepare my youngest two for the change in their schedule (NO NAPS!)

Wrapping It Up

It’s better to start now than never. Once everyone is on a routine schedule from day to day then it will allow the house to run smoothly. A routine gives the parent a peace of mind and more ability to focus on school or work or whatever. It keeps the kids in rotation and knowing what they are to do throughout the days. Changes starts with you and take it one day at a time. Anything will take time to get use to the change but nothing changes overnight. In the words of one of my favorite comedian Martin Lawrence, “Ain’t nothing to it but to do it!”