Being a mother of 2, working full time and doing a MSc part time - is it possible?

[cheesebubble]

My first child turned 2 in January, second due in May, I do work full time but will be at home with baby for 10 months, husband will then be at home for the remaining 2.

I would like to do an MSc part time from September. I'm driven, hardworking & ambitious but I do love my children and enjoy time as a family together.

Can one do it / have it all? I love what I do and this degree would be amazing for my future career.

Not at all the same, but I worked full time and did a part time masters with one toddler. It was really, really tough going. Personally I wouldn't have coped with two children. But I'd say go for it if you want to do it - I think you're more likely to regret not doing it

No.

I'm currently doing a part time masters over 2 years. I work 3 days per week and have 2DC, aged 5 and 18 months.

It's really, really hard. I am very driven to do it, but studying nearly every night is tough. My assignments last semester coincided with an insanely busy week at work and I was doing 18 hour days to keep up.

If I could stretch it out over 3 years, I think life would be much easier. But equally, I want it to be finished as soon as possible!

I'm currently doing an apprenticeship programme which is a BSC -2 days a week in university and working 3 days a week. The BSC is full time squashed into two days as it's a 3 year course (so not part time!) I also have 2 dc (5&7) and a dh who works away A LOT! It's hard but manageable. What other support do you have OP? My parents help me out sometimes when my Dh Is away.

@mummymathsteacher that's one thing I'm worried about, looking back thinking: I should have, I could have and well done for doing it, you should be proud of yourself.

@Stroan is the 18 months old at home with you or does he go to nursery on your days off? + you're probably home schooling your 5 year old. It sounds like I would be in a similar position (I cannot do uni work whilst at work as it's too stressful and my days are full on) and I am not underestimating it one bit but at the same time, I would love to have that degree!

@irishgal85 my parents are live abroad, I came over here 10 years ago for my BSc and met my now husband at university. His family are brilliant, kind understanding nice but we don't ask his parents to help out with childcare but they're happy to help and I know they'd help if I asked them to.

We have a nanny 3 days a week and he goes to the childminders 2 days a week. Once baby is born, nanny will leave (it's all been agreed and discussed), and DS1 will go to the childminders 3 full days Tues - Thursday until we're both back at work. My first baby was very easy (he's turned out to be super energetic and crazy haha) so I'm hoping to get quite a bit of the first year done between September and March when I'm still at home but it could be different depending on what kind of baby number 2 will be like.

I’ve recently finished a FT MSc while working PT (30 hours), with two children aged 5 and 8. I really enjoyed it, but I had to push myself very hard and after both semester assessment hand ins had the only two migraines of my life from working for too long and too hard. It was worth it though. Good luck!

I've just done an MA part time while working ft, but only one child. I found it hard at the weekends when I wanted to spend time with her but had to do work. I had some very early mornings and late nights. It is possible but you need support around you and you have to be strict with your own time.

@cheesebubble he only goes to nursery on the 3 days that I work. Although we are in Scotland and nurseries are closed, plus homeschooling! I hate to make excuses, but I'd have delayed starting if I had known another lockdown was coming.

Are you looking to progress your current career or do something different? For me, that would be the biggest influence on timing. I'm doing mine now with a view to getting a better job when my youngest starts school, so the timing was very deliberate.

I will say that its very, very satisfying when you get a good grade! I don't remember my undergrad being quite so satisfying.

I did a master's last year with a one and two year old, plus working pretty much full time as a nurse due to the pandemic - I'll be honest, it was bloody hard at times but I'm a bit rubbish with self discipline when it comes to completing tasks (suspected ADD). I did it though and got a good grade out of it

It's really good to hear some success stories on here, well done for everyone having pulled through it!!

@Stroan no I completely get it, sounds stressful, I know some people are against nurseries being open in England but I'm happy about it.

I'm 31, and this would be to further my career internally. I like working where I am but feel like this would really help me to get to where I want to be and I ever wanted to change companies, it would actually make me stand out. My oldest will start school in 2023, youngest in 2025 + I would finish this course in September 2024.

Maybe after all of this it would be time for number 3 to arrive 😅