Is it possible to gain a qualification after having kids?

[Marshmellow]

I can't help but feel incomplete. I have 3 wonderful young kids but still crave to have felt a sense of achievement in an acadamic sense. Dh works long hours and i guess i am envious of his status and achievement although i know i shouldnt be. I have started studying before and then had to give it up becuase the practicalities of fitting it all in when i have no family support around me. I feel torn between wanting to accomplish something and then my place at home with the kids!! What is the ideal subject to study when you have children? I'd love to go off and do my nurses trainig but with no family around and 3 small children i couldn't. I'm just feeling a bit worthless at the moment i guess and feel life is passing me by. I need to do something

In answer to your thread title, yes it is!

After I had my first child I went to the local college one morning a week to get my maths O level. 5 years later I went back and did an A level, then went to Uni the following autumn. My kids were 2, 4, 6 and 7 when I started.

We were lucky that FIL babysat when necessary, or it wouldn't have been so easy. You don't say how old your children are but once they are at school/ preschool you might be able to study during the day. My A level course was in odd blocks an hour three different days a week.

Thought about it as I posted and there is a Student Parents topic. You might get some good tips from the threads there.

I'm doing an OU degree. Perfect for fitting in around the children. Love it!

My kids are 4 (pre-school) and 6 (P2) and I started a two year post-grad diploma in counselling last september. It's one day a week from 1-8pm. On the day I'm at Uni the kids are able to stay late at school until DH can pick them up (£3/hour for the after-school care). At the moment I go to Uni one day, see clients one day and work two mornings a week. the only downside is the expense. The course is not cheap and I'm obviously not earning a lot at the moment only working about 12 hrs/wk. but otherwise I'm absolutely loving it and looking forward to the day I can make counselling my full-time job.

yes it is! i have done 4 alevels and have nearly finished my degree since having ds1, 5. I had a baby inbetween i nthat and am now finishing my degree at 29 weeks pg.

totally possible. just alot of organisation!

Sounds as if something in Health and Social Care at the Open University would be right of your street. You would certainly meet lots of other students in the same situation!

Yes it is!! I did my PGCE (post compulsory education), one day a week for 2 years (started when kids were 1 and 3yrs). Just takes lots of organising and hard work. I got a real sense of achievemant at the end though, and for me I LOVED my Thursdays of doing something which was completely NOT related to anything to do with home/kids.

It felt really refreshing.

Of course! Have just done my cert in CBt and in sept I start my PGDip CBT children and adolescents Go for it!

i got my Degree after ds was born.

In answer to what is the ideal subject, Well it has to be something you have an interest in I suppose, don't just go for care or nursing because you have kids, only go for that if that is what you really want to do.

OU is good because you can pick and choose and do social care one term then do geology the next.

Many colleges offer flexable learning options on a wide variety of courses, give them a phone and find out what is on offer.

I am doing a full-time foundation degree by distance learning. I fly down to to 2 day workshops once a month, but they are optional and all th info from the workshops is online. The course is pretty much accessed throughthe Uni website and all materials are posted there along with discussion boards and other info.

I started off with an "openings" course with the OU to start me off then I got the chance of doing this course through work.

Oh BEWARE of companies like ICS and others that advertise in papers and magazines, they can be expensive and many of there courses only result in an in-house certificate, which may not be worth heehaw inthe real world, like the childcare ones they do.

LearnDirect could be good for info.