Starting uni full time in September, having a wobble!

[FoxPass]

Reassure me being a student mum can be done!

I have 2 DSs, 4 and 20 months. DH works locally and my timetable is not too hefty so only 20 hours of childminding a week and we can manage drop offs and pick ups between us. We have family willing to help too.

I'm starting a psychology degree. I've spent the last 4 years off and on doing OU psychology and am using those courses as my entrance qualifications.

I know the workload will be hefty, but for 1st and probably part of 2nd year, I will be covering stuff I've already done with the OU.

I have been at home with the boys for almost 2 years now after taking redundancy after mat leave. Doing it now feels like a great opportunity to get a qualification and change career (or go back to my old field, but better qualified). And I'll be off during the school holidays with them so it seems like that's a benefit too.

My mum is a bit catsbumface about me 'leaving' my DC to study. But surely it's an investment in my future, and their future? Or am I being self-indulgent? I just want to get cracking with my degree, use my brain properly to fully learn a subject I love, and get out of the house and feel like an individual person again. DH is totally supportive of me doing this but other people's mixed reactions and negativity is getting me down.

Please tell me you have successfully juggled kids and study :)

I'm almost 29 and starting a Politics/Psychology degree next week. I'm a mixture of excited and terrified; the last 18 months have been hellish (chronic pain, health issues, major depression), and I worry I won't cope. I'm doing first year part time so it's not such a shock to the system, and like you all I'm just taking it one term at a time. WE WILL BE FINE! Also, the mums who have just got their PhDs, or are retraining to be doctors etc- you are so inspiring. I hope one day I can be in your shoes.

I am a medical student, had dd in a year out between 2nd and 3rd year, now just starting back in4th year. Trust me, it is doable, I love it! One bit of advice, keep sending them to the childminders/nursery during the holidays, you will need it! Or at least I did. I felt guilty about not spending the time with her so kept her home, but I had assignments to do and it was impossible with her at home. Just keep your eye on the prize! I have been back for 2 days, and I already am buzzing and dd us loving being back at the childminder wit the other kids! It will be fine I swear.

I have not juggled kids and education but see a lot of mums back at univ now as students and they do a good juggling job. Some tutors (like me) are happy to adjust seminar groups etc to support their childcare needs. Don't assume they won't help, use all support you can get from the univ.
It will be hard, let me not even pretend to say otherwise. But it's possible. It's good for you. It's good for them. You seem passionate about learning and have OH who is supportive as well as a family who can help with things - go for it. A happy person makes a happy parent. They will respect you for it (and will try and live up to it when older).
Degrees are hard work but a lot of time is wasted being wasted. I feel that students who come with the desire to learn and have fun perform much better than those with having fun as an aim with a bit of learning thrown in. But I ramble.

You will be fine! You will graduate and shall have family watching you walk across the stage in your gown. Good luck!!!

Thank you Mamottoo nice to hear the support fromthe tutors perspective. I felt onmy access course that one of my tutors (young, male and no children) really did not understand why us mums were not in a postion to drop everything and apply to uni's all over the country and that our choice of uni was limited to where we could travel to from our homes. Am hoping at uni they understnad how hard it will be for the parents to juggle.

Hve already had lots of e mails about freshers week and cheap club nights!!!! what I want to know is where I can park and waht is my timetable for the year.

I'm also having a bit of a wobble at the moment, I'm a single mum of two (8 years and 3 years), about to start fourth year of p/t degree and also starting a level 3 diploma in early years in about 2 weeks

I'm panicking that my degree just won't get me a job so the diploma is a sort of fall back plan but I'm really hoping that the two qualifications will boost my chances of getting a decent job when I do graduate...

Very worried that I'm taking on too much, uni, college and compulsory work placement (for college course) will take up my entire week and cost £70 per week in child care

BUT having kids is (I find) the best motivation to get your head down and persevere with studying. It is bloody hard at times but can definitely be done, especially when you have family and friends who are able to help out.

Ignore the negativity, you are setting a great example for your DC.

Didntchaknow Are you able to apply for a childcare grant? I'm a SP and have applied for one.

This is great to read :) Thanks for the tutor perspective MaMattoo.

I attended an intro day yesterday at uni, and did a mature students workshop. I didn't meet anyone doing my particular course but it was still very useful, mainly just to find out what kind of support is in place to help.

On the flyer for the intro day, there was a 'parents survival guide' session, which I thought would be ideal, to give me some pointers on juggling family and study. Then realised it was a session for parents with kids starting university, not student parents! :o

hahaha! did you go before realising??

No thankfully I copped on before entering :o

Joining this thread. Having a little wobble
after getting my course units selection list.

Can I ask the tutors a question? Do I need to attend all the freshers meetings with various bods from my school?

Hi Hermione, I would attend the introductory meeting for all first years and the library tour as they will likely cover any questions you have.

Plus the library system was so confusing at first, especially after the tiny college library! I remember just walking around the Uni library in a daze at first, then just walking out as it was too huge!

I've had the info on Freshers' Week. I had to chuckle as I'm rather mature but I would love to go to some of the events all the same.

Ah yes. I've had a few emails about club nights etc during Fresher's week. I'd love to see their faces if I rocked up

I already feel like the Pied Piper as I walk into campus with the youngsters behind me.

I was in my late 20s when I started uni but I still went on some freshers pub crawls! It was an experience that's for sure!

I've just finished my induction day! It went well, lots to take in and I'm pretty sure I'm ancient (cough almost 29) in the other Freshers' eyes but I don't care. I can't wait for the lectures to get started now. Good luck everyone!

They make me . They come in with terrible hangovers, stinking of drink but with beautiful skin and not an eye bag between them!

I will have had ten hours sleep and look like I've been dug up.

Well done all those who have started already with induction etc. Yes, I feel so shallow to be worrying how i'll compare to the gorgeous young things that could be on my course!! Luckily there's a high percentage of mature students on my course so I won't be alone in my hag-dom! I am fretting about what to wear etc . I just want to get going now and establish a routine. I still haven't done a practice run of the drive to the university and that's one of the things worrying me most!

I thought I was doing okay this morning - managed to leave the house with matching socks, hair brushed etc, but then these 18 year old models girls appeared in the lecture hall, all willowy and blonde and free from eye-bags and I realised how hag-like I probably looked. I shall embrace my hagness from here on in, though, I don't have the time nor the energy to plaster myself in slap and accessories from head to toe for a 9am lecture!

Well done everyone who started today! Glad I am not alone in obsessing worrying about what to wear on my first day and how rough I will look compared to the kids my fellow students :o Got a new bag and shoes today, oh and a note pad. All set!

I am so excited but soooo nervous!

I'm 45 so I can defo join the Hag Club .

I'm starting tomorrow and just remembered that I need a bag big enough to fit a folder in. I guess I should go shopping

Glad I am not the only one to see my new student role as an excuse to shop, have bought new boots and a bag

I did a trial run drive on Friday and found some on street parking which is a 10 min walk from uni and free!

As a student what reductions do we get, I know about the reduced council tax as I got this last year on my access course but do we get free prescription? anything else?

Well done to all of you who have been to your induction, mine is on Monday.

As a full time student at Uni, you are exempt from paying council tax, I didn't know this for my first year so paid it, then got it all back. Good times.

Obviously anyone else living with you over 18 might have to pay depending on circumstances.

I don't know about prescriptions actually, I shall google...

had my first day today! I Have the dubious honour of being the only student in my year of 48 people who is over the age of 20 and is a mature student disappointed there is nobody in the same age bracket as me, they are all school leavers, bar a 20 year old! Can't believe it!

Good day today, lots of induction breaking-the-ice type activities and paperwork. The campus is amazing and the commute not too bad. Yay!

I hope there will be a few proper middle aged people on my PGCE. Please!