Mature student single parent is there any point??

[lyssie29]

Basically I decided to do a degree with the open university. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old. I have started the course and enjoying it. It's a part time course and will take 6 years to complete I'm 34 now. I can't stop thinking today that I might be wasting my time with it. I can't get a babysitter to cover school holidays. I've never hired a childminder and I don't even know how to go about it all I know is when my kids were smaller they screamed and screamed at anyone but me. All I can think of is the best solution is to try and get a job in a school. What are your views on this? Just want some feedback as to what you would do in the same situation. Waste of time studying? Or take the chance anyway and do it and hopefully something will work out in my favour with regards to the school holidays. They have no grandparents and my siblings aren't willing to help out.

I would carry on studying. I think you will regret it if you give up.
What degree are you doing? Does it lend itself to a term time job?

It’s always worth studying, I’ve done 7y degree with OU myself. What are your other short term plans? Are you working at all at the moment? If you are on income support then you Will be expected to look for work once your youngest is in school so before degree finishes. It is possible to do alongside work, many do. So even if you carry on with it or not you will have to find work and childcare sometimes some point.

@FaFoutis it's a degree in IT. I suppose depending on the route I go down I could get a job working from home or in IT at a school or college. That sort of thing would be ideal.

Sounds good. I wouldn't give that opportunity up.

@Akire yes I'm currently on income support. The school does a breakfast and after school club too I'm not sure of costs but I think it would be cheaper than a childminder. I guess for the long term it would really benefit me to do the degree so I can get a good job. I just think too much and because I do everything for the kids it makes me sad to think I won't be able to if I work over the holidays. But needs must I guess.

I did this at 36 with a 7 year old and got an upper second in law. It totally changed my life, from the people i met to the sense of achievement and i got very good at juggling and time management. Carry on, you will manage, and with an IT degree as a mature student it will help open doors.

And you will be a great role model for your children.

Don’t give it up. It’ll be so worth it in the end. I’ve just started a degree and I’m older than you. At the moment I wouldn’t be able to afford or be comfortable with childcare. In three years time with the promise of a much better income I’ll find a way to make it work. Most jobs can be worked around children and there are loads of school holiday clubs that could help. You could end up with flexible working hours. This could be great for you all.

Is there a “promise” of a much better income though? Many grads don’t experience this because the competition is tough. However, keep going. You will get a sense of value and self worth.