Research shows that, even if they work fulltime, mothers still do more household chores than fathers. This was according to Jennifer Fraone, marketing and communications’ associate director at Boston College Center for Work and Family. Usually, this is the reason why working moms find it hard to further their education. Thankfully, online colleges are available now.
Studying while juggling many other obligations is challenging, but it’s not impossible. Consider these tips if you’re a mother who plans to study online.
Discuss your plan with your family
Talk to your partner and your children about how they can take on additional responsibilities. Whether you’re pursuing an education to have added earnings for the family, to land a job, or for a promotion, provide a clear explanation to your children. This way they’d understand why you need their support.
Whenever you get a good grade, celebrate with your family. Fraone said that this would help make them feel a bit more engaged.
Make your spare time count
Go over your reading materials whenever you have some spare time. Amanda Matheny, a single parent who studies at Western Governors University for her online bachelor’s degree, said that you should take advantage of your children’s nap time. Matheny studies at night when her son is already in bed so that she has enough time for him during the daytime.
Ask your employer if you can have flexible work hours
Patsy Deyo is a working mom who’s also taking up a master’s degree in nursing at George Washington University. At first, she said that she struggled to balance her school, work, and family responsibilities. So, Deyo and her husband talked to their employers about working staggered hours so that they could spend more time with their daughter. According to Fraone, employers tend to allow flexible hours if it’s for education.
Manage your workload
One of the keys to succeeding at being an employee, student, and parent all at the same time is not burdening yourself with too much workload. This was a mistake that Dean Ballard once made. She is an online student from Arizona State University who also has five children.
Ballard took a full course at first, thinking that this would make her finish the program fast. However, she realized that this wasn’t worth it. Ballard recommends not to set a hard deadline because this might lead you to failure.