Going Back to College After Having a Baby
Having a baby doesn’t mean the end of your college plans and future dreams. Instead, it’s just a sign that you need to find a degree program that meets your needs. In fact, there are actually only a few reasons why you can’t go back to school, as opposed to the many reasons why you should continue your education.
Not sure where to start? Want to know what you’ll need to do? It all starts with planning ahead, and at Dean College, we’re here to help.
Start a Routine
Not only is it a good idea to get your baby following a routine, simply to save your own sanity, but it can help you out as well. Once you know what your class schedule will look like, you can plan around it, making sure that your baby gets everything that he or she needs, from sleep to food. Sticking to the routine will give you plenty of time for your coursework, while making sure that all of you and your child’s need are met as well.
Know Your Limits
You don’t have to do it all. There’s no reason for you to push yourself into taking 18 credit hours of courses a semester while working a full-time job and caring for a newborn. This will just lead to unnecessary stress, among other things. Instead, know your limits and respect them. There’s nothing wrong with only attending school part-time so that you can balance everything. You’ll feel better about yourself if you keep it simple.
Use Your Time Wisely
Time management is one of the skills that you’ll need to learn in order to successfully balance parenthood, work, school and many other things at once. When your baby is sleeping, use that time to study. If you can balance feeding time while reading your textbooks, then do so. There are many things that you’ll find you can do at once, mastering the art of multi-tasking successfully.
Accept Help
This is often the hardest part of being a parent. People will be willing to help you out. Those that care about you will be willing to watch your baby for you for a few hours, bring you meals so that you don’t have to cook and even help straighten up your home so that you have more time for school. Don’t feel bad about accepting their help. Just be willing to return the favor when you can.
Communicate With Your Professors
Your professors need to know about your situation. They may be willing to work with you regarding deadlines and other issues, as long as they know how many different responsibilities you’re balancing. You’d be surprised at how willing to help they’ll be. After all, professors are real people with real lives too.
Looking For The Right School?
If so, consider Dean College. With a variety of full time and part time degree programs, you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs. Plus, you’ll love the small school feel and personalized atmosphere, which will help embrace you and your child while you finish your education. Only good things can happen once you’ve made the decision to move forward in life and set up for a brighter future.