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 :)

Feeling a bit more secure but also scared at the work ahead. Myself and the chap from the access course are the only mature students! I intend to make much use of my free hours in campus to keep up. Caught up with a couple of others from my access course today (on other courses) and they're as worried too. Which is a relief in a weird way.

Tough day today, had my first tutorial. I was the token mature student and ended up doing half the talking whilst most of the other kids stared at the ceiling or rolled their eyes. It was like they're stuck in the phase of pretending to be thick/not knowing stuff is cool, and it just infuriated me. I felt so uncomfortable with the silences, but then worried I'd be seen as "hogging" the group, talking too much etc. At least it's over for a week, but next Monday my other tutorial starts. Oh boy.

just quick update from me- started on the 17th. I'm loving it! I'm shattered though!
big mix of ages, everyone seems nice.

study day today so i've been trying to work out the timetable (really confusing!) as we don't have any work yet.

first week consisted of inductions, uniform fittings and injections!

haven't got lost yet!

Update - just the two lectures today. Really enjoyed them. One of the Dr.'s is a bit of an arse and I can see me and him potentially having words down the line, but found the subject matter fascinating.

Good job is was my short day because DS1 was sent home sick from school, so that's him off for 48hrs.

Cheesesarnie, been wondering how you've been getting on . All sounds good!

Catpower and foxpass what a shame you're both feeling so disheartened by being mature students - fwiw I reckon the younger students will just be feeling a bit Tongue tied at the moment - it's probably their first experience of being expected to be 'adults' in an educational setting and theyll be floundering a bit. They should be grateful for the mature students! What is the tutor making of their silence?

Cat that sucks :( I know what you mean about the talking, I think a lot of them are still a bit shy as you say peggoty. I'm hopeful it'll improve, hope it does for you too.

I had awful PMT the last few days, hence the woe-is-me post now it's lifting I feel a bit better and I have made friends with a few class mates this week and realise it's a mixed bag of who'll you'll make friends with, no matter what your age :)

Cheese and Oscar that's great! I know what you mean about the tiredness, I am so mentally tired after a full day learning. I love it though, keep feeling like I should pinch myself! Got an essay due in 2 weeks, the work's starting to take shape now.

My brain is melting! Just checking in quickly whilst I grab a quick bite to eat.

Spoken to some others too and they are all finding it tough, glad it's not just me!

got my first placement today- im so excited! working with a community mental health team

Rubbish day today. Really weird dynamics within the group - people seem to be behaving strangely - it's like being at school again and playground politics. Little cliques forming etc. Feel

Peg just remember that you are doing this to for you, not to make lots of new friends.

Chin up.

The reading is immense in my course. Off to do another hour or two now.

Quick update..

Induction week complete chaos! Rooms changing without telling us...people sitting in our group not meant to be there,but tutor telling them stay here and "make some new friendS"!

Piss Up and Brewery come into mind Very stressful week...and got to go back to work too next week on top of everything.

First proper lecture next week...wonder if the lecturer (or us) find the right room

Aw peggoty I'm right there with you, chin up, it will get better.

peg ignore it all and remember that you'll be getting more out of it than them if they're only bothered by the silly stuff.

crazy- sounds horrid! ours was confusing, especially the timetables but yours sounds awful!

Can I join in?

Starting first year tomorrow, and today got an email from CM saying she's moving away in 30 days - completely rubbish timing and has really put a downer on my first week, before I've even got there!

Still, got a nice pencil case.

ohno! what a pain and what timing!

have you started looking at your options?

good luck for tomorrow!

Thanks. I'm going to be ringing around on my days off this week, hopefully something will turn up. Arrgh!

I emailed one of my tutors, I was starting to panic about my reason reflection.

He has told me that it's ok to panic and its actually part of the Socratic method to confuse the pupil. Weirdly I actually feel better about it all now.

Giving myself an hour head space before hitting the hay ready for tomorrow.

Sent my first two assignments in (a day early, I need the free time to get DS1's birthday cake and party cakes sorted tomorrow and friday), I strongly suspect they are crap but it's early days and I can only improve.

oscar- don't put yourself down! you don't know that they're crap!

It's ok I'm preparing myself for the worst! I have 11 pieces per module but only 8 have to be handed in per module for final assessment, doing these are rubbish it's not end of the world and I can use them as a foundation on which to build.

One piece crap, one piece very good first attempt. that'll do.

Swapped all my semester 2 classes, hating medieval England so going to study later British History instead.

Can I join you all? I started in September (having had a massive wobble which is why I know about this thread, it really helped me, thankyou!!
). I'm in an allied health profession post grd course. I feel your pain about "hogging" tutorials. I keep telling myself to keep quiet like the rest of them. Got an exam in two weeks - eek. Three little ones at home, all fine so far which is grand.

Hi boobeedoo, welcome. I took Over a tutorial today but my fellows were happy because I helped them understand how our reading reflections work so it was a really good ice breaker too. I'm ahead because my seminar is way before them so my reflection had been in, marked and returned.

I'm feeling happier about it all now, I've even re-jigged my timetable for next semester to modules I hope to enjoy more, even though it'll still be new ground.

Absolutely knackered

It is soooo hard juggling work shifts and lectures'/seminars'. Even the cat has completely got the arses' with me..pretending she doesn't know who I am!

Thank goodness I don't have to juggle childcare (dd is 14). I don't know how you guys' with little ones' do it...I honestly don't. I truly salute you!!

I kept getting picked on by lecturer in one session on Social Policy to answer Qs'...and when I asked why he said it was my T shirt that was drawing him to me...'twas my "Coalition...putting the 'N' in Cuts'" T shirt . I managed to hold my own though in the answers'...and some of the younger ones' said "see ya!" to me at the end.

I feel like the walking dead (zzzzzz)

Walking dead is right. Feel the same too. It'll get better. (I hope)