to be considering working full time and studying with a toddler?

[NavyKnickers]

I am considering working full time and studying for a professional qualification with a 2 year old- would I be crazy??

It is a 3 year full time course, or I could work 4 days and take 4 years to complete it.

I'd like to get the study over and done with and start earning the increased wage that would come with qualifying, plus once I'm qualified we can start trying for dc2. DS1 is settled at nursery and so would be fine with the additional day that he would need to do.

I also think that it would be easier to do full time, as at the minute I am working 3 days (so 4 days out of the office) and am finding it hard to get back into the swing of work in just 3 days.

[Purplepoodle]

I'd go for three years ft if you can afford it. Much less stressful than working and trying to study

[morethanpotatoprints]

I'm a bit confused, sorry.
How can you study ft and work ft?

I studied when we had 3 dc but didn't work. It completely changed our lives and I had very little time with the dc.
Dh had to take on lots of extra responsibilities on top of his work and whilst he was happy to do it and very supportive it was far too much at times.
Christmas was particularly bad as deadlines were coming up, food and present buying on top of things with the dc, there just weren't enough hours in the day and we all got ill because we were so knackered.
Sorry to be a misery, but you need to know what you are taking on.

[NavyKnickers]

Sorry, I've been a bit ambiguous.

The qualification is the ACA so the studying will be part of my job, iyswim? I'll be released from work to go to college etc, and all will be paid for by work.

I guess that's a bit different to a uni qualification for example.

[rosierainbows]

I have done it with more children. It is stressful but totally doable.

[MissMuesli]

I've done two courses with a toddler and it was hard going. I am a single mum to which added to the pressure. Be super organised, give up on sleep and be super polite to your tutors (helps if you need extensions at all) and you should be ok!

[Pancakeflipper]

Depends on your support network.
It would have wiped me out but I have no family or super close friends living near me, my partner works away and my child has medical issues. I know my stress limitations!

[kirbymagicyarn]

It depends how much you want it. I have done it at a higher level qualification to yours. We have 3 children (1 is a baby, 1 SN), both working full time and not using childcare. We also have no support at all.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Ah, this is different OP, I see what you mean now. I was thinking uni and a ft job on top.

Yes, completely doable but as others have said you'll need a good support network nd your dh not only on board but aware of what it will mean for your family.
It will be temporary which you'll need to keep in mind when the going gets tough.
I'd advise being completely familiar with the course and the expectations etc and to be very efficient with your time.
It will be tough at times but you have an end goal in sight and it will be so good for your career by the sounds of things.
If your child is very young you can do all the xmas stuff and be ready if you start early enough and then that's one more thing less to think about.

[PervyMuskrat]

I did my ACA a few many years ago and whilst the material isn't that tough, there is a lot of it. I was child free at the time and used to work full time and spend 1 full day (9-5) studying at the weekend to keep on top of it.

With a child I would imagine it would be hard to do that unless you have an excellent support network to help with childcare whilst you're studying.

It's a great qualification though and can open many doors so I'd definitely give it a try and see how it goes

[Guitargirl]

I worked full time and completed a PhD part time with two small children.

I am not going to pretend that it was easy but the sense of satisfaction that it gave me when I finished it was enormous.

Good luck OP whatever you decide.

[OllyBJolly]

I'm a single parent who worked full time and studied for two Masters degrees while kids were growing up. No family around. A few totally subjective observations

Being on my own with small kids meant I was confined to the house anyway in the evenings so studying gave me something to do.

Younger kids go to bed early and are less intellectually demanding than tweens/teens. No way would I have had the emotional energy to read and retain info when they were older.

It's amazing how much study time you can weave into a working day- commuting time, lunch time, airport lounges, train journeys. Weekends were a bit of a write off apart from early mornings. I was too tired most evenings.

Assessments etc always coincide with sick kids and/or work crises.

I'm quite sure if I had a partner I would not have done as well as I did.

No way would I have the fulfilling job or lifestyle I have now if I hadn't studied.

[NavyKnickers]

Thanks all.

My support network is amazing- my parents and my in laws are so supportive and my best friends have got small children so will be able to help in emergencies etc.

My firm are always putting people through ACA/AAT etc so are supportive and used to giving advice and helping. I've seen lots of people studying for ACA and so know how much hard work it involves, I just don't think many have done it with small children from my firm- maybe that's a sign?!

[kirbymagicyarn]

If you go in to it thinking you might not do it then you probably won't. If you go in with the attitude even if I had 6 children and worked 100 hours a week I am going to do it then you probably will ime. I wouldn't let children slow you down. It is just essential you manage your time and you realise it will probably be stressful at times.

[Purplepoodle]

Could u work 3 days then you would have your day release then a day to study too?