Does anyone work full time and distance learn as well?

[scarletmonkey]

I'm interested to hear how people manage time wise as i'm part way through a degree/diploma through the OU. I gave birth in August and am returning to work full time in May, with a two hour commute.
I'm planning on returning to study, signing up for a course this feb. I don't know if i'll have the time, hopefully with some good time management it'll be doable. My main concerns are, having the time to study and worried i'll miss out on time with my son, as well as paying for it all once he goes into nursery.
I don't want to give up the OU or everything i have done so far is wasted, nor can i put it off for a few years because of the fees change. But, nor do i want to miss out on my son growing up because i'll be studying. I kinda want to have my cake and eat it.

How do you manage it?

Would you be able to study during your commute? I travel to work on an overcrowded bus so it's not possible for me but a colleague who travels by train does the majority of her OU course then which sounds ideal.

I started my course when DS was 13 months and I'd just returned to work. It's not been easy, but I have managed so far. Most of the time I study when DS is in bed and luckily DH is extremely supportive and does the majority of the housework. When assessments are due I usually have to study all day on a Saturday or Sunday too. I think I've become more focussed as I know I only have a limited amount of time to study and putting it off would mean missing out on family time. Having said that I'm aware that I now study in less depth than I have in the past and I know I do far less work than others on the course.

Before I started the course I had the same concerns as you and I emailed the course team and asked to speak to a tutor before signing up. Someone got in touch a few days later and went over the types of assessment on the course and the dates they were due etc., which was really helpful.

Thank you for your response. I had a chat with DH and explained my concerns, like your DH he's very supportive and is willing to pick up the pieces round the house so to speak. Family have also said they are willing to watch DS on the weekend when i need to study or have a TMA due so i can go to the library and get some uninterrupted study time. I think also, most of my study will be done once DS is in bed.

Sadly, i have to drive to work, otherwise i could get in an extra two hours on the bus or train. But i could look into doing this on days when my husband is looking after DS. (i'd have to drive to work on days DS is in nursery as their opening times means i wouldn't get to work on time taking public transport.) But that is def something to look into, thanks for the suggestion.

I finished studying for my Masters with the OU whilst working full time. It was tough, I'm a single parent, so I did end up having to stick DD in front of the telly a lot whilst I studied at weekends, did some after she was in bed, and my mum and dad had her if I had a TMA to do. I think I might have also done some at work too when no one was likely to notice (although it was linked to my work, so this isn't as bad as it might sound!). Could you get any study / exam leave? It wasn't ideal to be honest, and I didn't give DD the attention that I would have liked to, but it doesn't seem to have done any damage to her / our relationship longer term - and you are in a different situation with your DH around too. I think I accepted that I wasn't going to do the best that I could have done in ideal circumstances, and accepted good enough for my studies. I'm definitely pleased that I did it though, so good luck!