Are there any teachers who have studied for a masters and had a baby at the same time?

[moulesfrites]

Or am I absolutely mad to be considering this? I have been advised to do a masters on a part time basis to further my teaching career, but me and dh are also ttc.

Am not a teacher, but work full time and am half way through a doctorate and pg with first baby. My uni is more than understanding, I'm allowed to take a break in my studies for up to 2 years... would you be allowed to take a break when little one comes along? Would the stress of doing a masters interfere with ttc?

I would say it's down to the amount of time you need to dedicate to the course and if you can manage that and if your priorities would change once tcc works. I did a two year part time one and that meant one day off work for the course, plus week here and there for practical lab work and then I had to spend atleast 15 hours every week to get everything done to get a good mark and stay ontop of things. I worked really hard, after work studying 3 hours everyday Mon- Fri after work so that I could have the whole of the weekend off. Other pepole tended to spend all day sunday on their coursework.
I think now since many postgraduate courses are based on modules, you could always take the modules you are able to and catch up on the others later, if you need too.

by the way I had no family responsibilities at the time so it meant cutting back on social time

Am thinking of doing it via the OU so that would allow for more flexibility. thanks for the advice so far.

The OU is definitely flexible - I did my BSc with them - and you can 'substitute' assignements with your average score, for example. However, I found it tough going, even with no family responsibilities - I was working full time but was working shifts in those days - you really have to be dedicated and put aside specific times to study. Good luck!

I'm not a teacher, but did study for a masters while TTC. Mine was a distance learning course, with 4 long essays and a dissertation to complete.

Stupidly I left the dissertation until the first 6 weeks of my maternity leave, and you can guess what happened! I procrastinated, and finally got down to it 2 weeks into my maternity leave. DS came along 3 weeks early, and I had to complete the thing before DS was 6 weeks old. I couldn't have another extension because I'd already exhausted that route!

So doable, just don't do it the way I did it. Having said that, I always had something to read in those long breastfeeding sessions!

DD was 4 months when I was doing a module for a masters; not even a dissertation, but just a module.

I loved going to the library at the uni and getting some metal stimulation! I am one of these people who needs to get out of the house to get academic work done, and library is perfect!

You have to be ultra organized, but it's so rewarding...

mental stimulation even....

I did a Masters while teaching full time. DD was 2 and a half when I started it.

It is doable. It certainly kicks your brain out of Mummy Mode.

Yep, me! Loved it but what a juggling act! It kept my brain in order and gave me a reason to get out to the uni library whilst dh minded the kids (I know he should do anyway)

I did mine PT at my local uni and it worked well - 2 hours of lectures per week, plus a lot of personal study time and practical research.

I started my first master's degree before I had kids and completed it two weeks before I gave birth to my second child! I found it great to do whilst I was on mat leave - particularly as I am a teacher, and so used to working evenings and I found it a pleasant distraction to have something to do in the evenings. Also found I was able to work on it during the school holidays etc...

My DDs are now 5 and 2 and I'm now doing my 2nd Masters degree. It is harder now with 2, but still possible. You just need to be focussed. I dedicate one night a week to it, and get through it slowly, taking the maximum time allowed!

Good luck!

ilovemydogandmrobama - you got "metal" stimulation at your library??!!
Tell me more!!!!