Can you guess what some common hesitations for moms are to go back to school?
Although we know education is beneficial for our future, we often run into these assumptions that stop us from taking action.
In this article, you’ll find 3 common hesitations for moms to go back to school, and how to address them.
What happens when children become school age?
First of all, “Well done moms!” In our parenting life, this is one of the biggest milestones you experience. Your children start going to school. That means you gain at least 5 hours of free time while they are at school.
Unless you have a career already, many moms start looking for a job or going back to school. But finding a job that is flexible and pays well can be very challenging. So you start thinking about going back to school for a better opportunity.
As soon as you have the idea of going back to school, these 3 hesitations instantly arise.
What are 3 common hesitations for moms?
- I’m too old to go back to school.
- I don’t have money.
- I don’t know if I can balance my family life and school work.
Addressing these 3 common hesitations
#1. I’m too old to go back to school.
What many of you often feel is the time gap related to your age. Either you feel old or have a huge gap (out of school) that makes you anxious. It’s because for the last few years your main focus was anything but yourself. So it’s totally normal for you to feel that way.
Have you ever been inspired by adult students before? Many of us value their energy and determination. And it’s almost a life-changing opportunity. Just imagine, you could be one of them to inspire others. It also makes you a good role model for your own children.
Also, professors enjoy having adult students in their classes due to their commitment and work ethic. On top of that, peers appreciate your presence and rich life experiences.
Age/gap doesn’t mean anything for learning. When you want to learn is the best time to educate yourself. Picture yourself inspiring others to become adult learners.
#2. I don’t have money.
This is also a common concern families have. Luckily, there are a lot of free content or online courses available for you. For instance, Khan Academy provides free education for everyone. Others like B-School by Marie Forleo, also provide free training and scholarship as well.
If you haven’t looked into free education opportunities, spend some time to see what’s available.
Instead of worrying about money before you even look into it, start looking for options. You’ll be surprised by the variety of choices.
#3. I don’t know if I can balance my family life and school work.
This is one of the biggest fears for moms to become adult learners. Although your children are school age, that doesn’t mean you can sit and relax.
Many children start participating in sports, lessons, and other activities. Yes, that means you are driving everywhere & anytime based on children’s schedules. If your child is committed to a representative team of any kind, your time commitment increases instantly.
Regardless of your children’s activities, balancing family life and school work is hard. But it all works out in the end.
What you need to remember is that you’ve already got communities like your own family, relatives, neighbours, and friends. When they know your plan, they are happy to support you. Your achievement probably makes them happy as well.
Helpful tips for balancing family & school life
- Talk to your own family (your partner and children) to set a clear boundary. Ask for what kind of help you need, so you can focus on learning. And make a list as a reminder.
- Prioritize your to-do list and reduce the frequency of household chores.
- Make a weekly dinner plan. It’s much easier when you know what you or your family is making each day.
- Create either a written or electronic calendar, and put all the events in the schedule as a family so you can plan who’s driving and which child where at what time. It’s all about planning to make time.
- The most important thing is, to make sure you prioritize self-care. Otherwise, you’ll get burnout.
To start taking a course is definitely hard for moms with younger children. Since we are often the primary caregivers, our concerns are often around family. In my case, the biggest fear was the family & school balance.
What I realized was that I had to let go of some of the responsibilities I had. Well, I thought I had (wanna be a perfect mom syndrome!). But it’s OK to ask for some help or simplify your family involvement, so you can focus on your study.
If you are thinking about going back to school, go for it! Once you start, everything will come together. It’s often our fear that stops us from trying something new or different. Remember, we are afraid of unknown/unfamiliarity. Once you see it, you’ll be so happy that you took the step!
I’m looking forward to seeing more moms graduating or completing a program. When that happens, please send me a picture!