Effective Ways to Balance Childcare with Returning to School
There are a bevy of reasons for which people return to school. In addition to the tremendous sense of accomplishment you’ll glean from earning an advanced degree, you’ll be able to broaden your career prospects and enjoy enhanced earning power. However, as any seasoned parent can attest, continuing your education while raising a family can be an uphill battle. Higher education represents a considerable commitment and attempting to balance earning a degree with caring for children and/or working full-time is liable to push you to the breaking point. Of course, this isn’t to say that parenthood should serve as an impediment to adult learning. Busy parents looking for effective ways to balance childcare with returning to school should consider the following pointers.
Enrolling in Online Degree Programs
Getting a degree can be a full-time job in and of itself. In addition to requiring a commute, the adult college experience demands that students tailor their schedules to fit those of their professors. For adult learners with children, this can prove challenging, to say the least. Fortunately, you can get around this by forgoing the traditional route and enrolling in an online degree program. Earning your degree online will enable you to attend classes on your schedule and avoid commutes, parking fees, meal fees and other expenses associated with the traditional college experience. So, if an online degree program sounds like a good fit for you, head on over to the University of Arizona global campus.
Requesting Assistance from Friends and Family Members
Many of us are extremely hesitant to ask for help, even from the people we’re closest to. Not only do we tend to view asking for help as a sign of weakness, we’re also afraid of inconveniencing the people from whom we seek assistance. Although we live in a culture of overwork and a society that continually emphasizes pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, it’s important to recognize how destructive this type of thinking can be. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to ask close friends or family members for assistance when it comes to childcare. In the absolute worst-case scenario, the people you ask will say they’re unable to help. More than likely, however, they’ll be happy to tend to your children while you’re attending classes, studying for exams and completing important assignments.
Of course, the level of assistance you can expect generally depends on a number of factors. For example, it’s easier to receive assistance from family members who live within easy driving distance than from relatives who live a ways away. Secondly, the people from whom you request assistance should have a level of availability that suits your purposes. After all, a person who’s as swamped as you are may not be able to provide the type of help you’re looking for.
Furthermore, when receiving childcare assistance from members of your inner circle, make sure to compensate them accordingly. This doesn’t necessarily mean giving them money, either. (Although paying them should certainly be on the table.) For instance, if a friend or relative who frequently watches your kids needs some time for themselves, consider offering to watch their children for a while. Buying small presents and making meals for your benefactors are other great ways to show your appreciation.
Doing Schoolwork at Opportune Times
Even if you don’t have to plan your life around your professors’ schedules, you’ll still have to plan it around your kids’ schedules. As such, studying and doing schoolwork when your little ones are preoccupied can be a great way to minimize interruptions. For instance, if you’re a morning person, tending to academic matters before you kids wake up can be a satisfying way to start your day. Alternatively, if you’re more focused at night, save the studying for after your children are asleep.
For many people, going back to school is a crucial step in advancing their careers and increasing their earning power. However, attending classes and tending to schoolwork when raising a family can be difficult, to say the least. Luckily, this doesn’t mean you’ll need to choose one or the other. The previously discussed measures can be a boon to busy parents looking for ways to balance childcare with returning to school.