Can I do it, or am I too old? How will I survive? How will any of us survive? Such questions are the ones that frighten adults away from attaining their degree the most. However, if you truly want to better your career and in turn better your life, you can do it, you will survive, and in fact, you all will survive!

First, you must decide how much getting a degree means to you. Is there a career that you've always been interested in but never found the time or money to enter the field? You should investigate the career, such as the need where you live or if you would have to relocate, future earnings, and actually spend a day shadowing someone in the field. If, after all of this, you are still interested, it is time to start investigating schools and degrees that would get you closer to your dream.

Once you decide which school fits your life, meaning it offers night, evening, or day classes, correspondence courses, and a student-teacher ratio that you are looking for, you must evaluate your support network. Perhaps you don't think you have one, but look again and you may find you have more people rooting for you in your corner than you first thought! If your children are in school, you may be able to take most of your classes while they're in class, but if you must work, also, you will have to find a flexible babysitter who is reliable and trustworthy. Relatives are best, but if you don't have one nearby, neighbors, friends, and members from church all may provide a good source for babysitting needs. Perhaps there is a mommies or daddies group that offers to babysit your child one day in trade for you watching their child another day. Be creative and you may discover you have more choices after all. If a babysitter cancels during an important class, some professors don't mind if you must take an older student to class with you, but please remember the content of the class and if it would be appropriate or not for your child to hear the discussions or lectures.

After school begins, you will need to decide what to do with your children while you are doing your homework. Let them play outside and take your assignments to the picnic table if the weather is nice. For little kids, set up a desk near yours and let them do their "homework" while you work on yours if you must stay inside. Try to avoid using television as a babysitter, but often, especially when you are stressed, this happens. Just remember you are improving your life in order to improve their lives, so always remember to put them first. You most likely won't have time to join many of the clubs or associations offered at school like the students without children, but you may find time for one or two, and you will always be part of your "Kids Club."

Surviving college with small childrenor even older childrencan be extremely difficult, but extremely satisfying. You may need to go slowly, perhaps attending only part-time, but if you keep working toward your goal, you can make it. Just remember you are serving as an example to your children and even if they don't understand what Mommy or Daddy is doing at the time, they will be proud of you once they do comprehend your sacrifices and your achievements.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Martens.
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