Heading off to college at any age can be incredibly daunting, but these feelings of stress and anxiety are often worsened for mature students. After all, not only do you have a lot more responsibilities than you did as a teenager (such as a mortgage and bills to pay), you may also be worried about returning to education after taking some time away.
Photo by Brian Wangenheim on Unsplash
As a result, many moms are reluctant to return to education, even though it could be the change you need to find your dream and build a better life for your family. With that in mind, here are some top tips for returning to education after having kids.
- Find a degree that interests you and offers career progression. The first step towards returning to education is finding the right course for you. Not only should it pique your interest, but it should also broaden your job prospects within your chosen career path. The easiest way to figure out which degrees lead to which jobs is to do a little bit of research. For example, those with excellent leadership skills and a passion for sports might want to look into Job Options for an MBA in Sports Management.
- Manage your time carefully. One of the biggest challenges associated with parenting and studying is figuring out how to balance life as a mature student and a parent. After all, your childcare duties will not change, even if you have to study for a big exam. As a result, you need to brush up on your time management skills ahead of time so that you are prepared to take on your work both at university and at home.
- Keep an eye out for flexible learning opportunities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational facilities worldwide were forced to take a more flexible approach to education. As a result, online study has never been more advanced – which means that you can now get your degree while continuing to stay at home with your kids. Alternatively, if you wanted to split your time more evenly between your home and your studies, you could study part-time, as this allows you to cut down your initial workload by 50%. This also means that you’ll have a little more time to complete any assignments and can spread the cost of studying out a little further.
- Get rid of mom-guilt. Whether you are returning to studies or heading back to work after your maternity leave, you must be able to banish mom guilt over childcare. This is because you are working to provide a better life for yourself and your child, and there is nothing shameful about this. Furthermore, attending childcare is actually beneficial for children. This is due to the fact that it provides them with structure, intellectual stimulation, and the chance to interact with other children their age. Finally, giving yourself the freedom to pursue your own interests and passions outside of being a parent can help you to feel more like yourself again after having kids.