feeling overwhelmed, need a moan...

[hissymissy]

OK, a bit of back ground here. I am in the middle of studying towards a degree with the OU. Have been bringing up DS single handed for 5 years (dead-beat father has contributed 0% for 5 years, both in financial help and contact/visitation) , and I work full time.

I have just started a new module, which happens to be the highest level in the subject at undergrad level, that is to say, pretty hard. Internet access is compulsory for most OU courses now, and this is no exception. The entire course is delivered online, and many resources have to be printed off. It is a language degree so audio equipement is also needed. Even tutorials are given online, through a conferencing thingy called "Elluminate".

We are on a very low income, therefore entitled to the maximum level of financial help, which is great. However, money worries are never very far away, and obviously the technology needed to access the course is not cheap, even though I have had help towards the cost of a laptop, all the accessories; headset, books, internet access through a 3G dongle, printer + ink/paper etc are an added strain on limited resources.

In the last two weeks my laptop has malfunctioned, it cost me lots of £££ to be fixed, then my dongle got broken, have had to buy new one, I keep on getting niggling glitches like my printer driver has been wiped by the techies and the driver DVD is no where to be found. My headset works on the conferencing software, but not on the online Audio Recording Tool. When I get it to work, my speakers don't work. Now printer is malfunctioning and I have been trying to study this course for 2 weeks, but haven't even managed to get through 1 week's work!

Am at the point of tears now because I can't see how I am going to get though this course at this rate and I am tired of juggling job, son, housework, cooking, friends, and studies ALL ON MY OWN. Have just thrown 6 months worth of junk and old paperwork on the floor in a temper. I AM LOSING IT PLEASE HELP :-(

Hissymissy - I hope you're feeling a bit better today. I don't have much in the way of comfort for you except to say that you have my utmost admiration for what you're trying to achieve.
I really hope you make it.

hissymissy -like corlan I have total admiration for anyone who can do an OU degree, work full time and bring up children alone. All I am posting for is to suggest you put your PC woes in the Techie section of this site as they may be able to help. I've seen them before in action!
Hope you're having a better day today.

It sounds like you've been doing really well. Keep going and think how great you'll feel when you've finished the degree. Sorry - this sounds really condecending but I did a degree under difficult circumstances (not as difficult as yours) but I feel imense satisfaction now it is finished.

Well done that superwoman Hissymissy and keep going!!!

Hope your teccy nightmares are getting ironed out. It'll be worth all the angst when you've finished your degree. Just keep your sights trained on that finish line. What a great model you are for your DS. You should be very proud of yourself IMHO.

PS Can you get new printer driver download from internet?

Thankyou for your words of encouragement. I think I just needed a place to rant. You know one of the worst things about being a lone parent is the fact that there is no one to confide in when things get hard. I am not giving up yet, as I have worked too hard and come too far to through in the towel. It was getting very late when I posted and I was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Amazing how much better it all looks in the cold light of day, even suffering sleep deprivation.

It's ok pickgo, I found the printer driver dvd the other day after spending a whole evening hunting and reorganising my storage cupboard. It was well overdue a tidy up, but it was one of the many examples of things that are holding me up when I ought to be studying. However, the printer is playing up for other reasons, probably just can't take the strain as it's a cheapie one and I needed it to print 60 pages (that is just one week's worth printing BTW). In the end I have sneakily done it at work (felt very guilty and naughty but I was desperate).

have you got a freecycle site in your area
just list what you need and you may be lucky
free of charge...and well done keep going
you'll come thru the other end.

I'm doing a degree fulltime.

I am in awe of you.

I so could not do this and work as well.

just thought I'd add that you can get online in your local library for free and printing is 15p per sheet if you ever have an emergency - just need to join up to the library. You could attach your assignment to an email and pick it up at the library, or get course materials there, or do work (they have office and word etc)

Only prob is opening hours if you work...but it's an option if you get stuck again and can't afford to get things fixed quickly...

sorry just read thread properly and see you do work....but you can get in on sat and they might open late
I'm supposed to be studying but have just got the internet at home (no more library for me....touch wood) so am facestalking and mumsnetting instead!!!!

I know, the pitfalls of working online are many! So many distractions! I tell myself I can only go on FB or MN if I have at least done one activity on the OU. Then I usually do a lot more once I get started. Getting started is the hard bit for me.

The local freecycle group just closed down recently. There is a freegle site too, but not a lot of traffic on there. I will keep on trying. Not sure the library is very practicle for me TBH. I am hoping my printer was just hving a momentary glitch and it will be fine after a 'break'.