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Student parents support thread

457 replies

Lenni · 21/01/2010 15:38

I used to come on this topic a year or so ago and post on the general hand holding support thread but it seems to have gone so I'm hoping there might be enough of us to start a new one.

I'm in my final leg of a M.Ed in Education and am currently writing my thesis which is going very slowly okay but am struggling to find time, motivation or energy to study. It would be nice to know others are in the same boat and have a place to handhold, moan, swap tips and motivate each other.

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Lenni · 11/02/2010 13:09

Must not procrastinate on MN. Need to write the last section of my lit review today. Am suddenly feeling the pressure.

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mixedmamameansbusiness · 11/02/2010 13:36

Well done on it being the "last" section Lenni. Now off and get on with it.

Molesworth · 11/02/2010 14:28

I've achieved nothing this week, as predicted, and still dithering over the bbk course

Hope everyone else has had a more productive week than I have. This thread is a great motivational tool

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

madwomanintheattic · 11/02/2010 14:39

lenni what are you doing here? be off! (happy to proof read lol - not trying to pick your brains about organisational socialisation at all, oh no... )

moley, how about just making a decision on the bbk course this week, if that's all realistically you are going to be able to do? that way at least in your head you've made academic progress of sorts? it's cheating a bit lol, but will make you feel a bit more grounded and you might manage to get something else done/ organised. if i'm having a faffy week, i often find that getting something sorted means that i'm a bit more able to find ways to do other stuff too... can you bounce the idea off your mum and see what she thinks? (i couldn't lol, but your mum might be different to mine...)

mixedmamameansbusiness · 11/02/2010 16:19

madwoman - every Wedn my mum asks me what it is I am studying. love her tho.

moles - last night i decided to read for an hour and instead started sorting through books and then managed to randomly write a first draft intro for one of my essays and not even the one I am excited about so dont write the week off just yet.

Ewe · 11/02/2010 16:32

Hi all

Reading week this week, I have done absolutely nothing! Out with the girls tonight but have a relatively quiet weekend so planning on ploughing through my books on the welfare state. It's pretty interesting compared to a few of the topics I have had to cover off which makes the process easier.

I haven't got my head around any online systems either, must look at that really.

Well done on UG teaching opportunity Lenni!

Molesworth - my motto is when in doubt do so my suggestion would be just do it. You'll be great!

mixedmamameansbusiness · 12/02/2010 10:41

My lecturer does a course on the welfare state and i consdiered doing it when I realised that 3 modules would prob topple me.

Molesworth · 15/02/2010 11:55

How's everyone getting on? Do you manage to get much done during school hols (it's half term here)?

I have an assignment due on 2 March, so I've got to crack on this week.

I've decided - with regret - not to do the Birkbeck course. I don't think I'd be able to cope with the extra work on top of my OU studies this year My OU course finishes in October, so I'm going to keep an eye on the Birkbeck course listings with a view to doing something between October and February (when my final OU course starts).

FioFio · 15/02/2010 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Molesworth · 15/02/2010 14:41

FIO! Hello!

TulipsInTheRain · 15/02/2010 14:46

can i join in this thread?

I'm only just beginning my studies, doing a leval one science course with the OU but hoping to eventually get a degree. The course i'm doing now will give me a Certificate in Natural Sciences in June though if i do well so a good starting point.

I'm finding it so difficult to focus though, I have three kids of 5 and under and i'm treasurer of the playschool management committee and i just don't seem to be able to spend as much time as i need to on my course, to do the degree i'll need to double up on course next year and i just can't see how on earth i'll manage that

Molesworth · 15/02/2010 17:44

Hi tulips,

First of all, I take my hat off to you for managing to study with three small DCs and your other commitments. No way would I have had the determination and commitment to do that when my two were little (I didn't start until mine were in their teens).

Why do you have to double up on courses after this one? It sounds like full-time study would be difficult in your circs.

TulipsInTheRain · 15/02/2010 18:16

The course i'm doing now only counts towards a degree for 5 years after completion and the various modules i need for a degree only start in oct or jan/feb. I worked it out in an excel spreadsheet [sad twat emoticon] and can't really see any way to get them all done unless i do two at a time for the majority.

ds1 will be starting primary in sept so at least i'll have two of them out of the house for 5 hours a day but ds2 won't start playschool for at least 2 years so i'll be trying to juggle him and study.

Hopefully next year someone will take the playschool job off my hands though (i was sort of landed in it this year and wish i hadn't taken it on) but volunteers are short on the ground and it's the one job absolutely nobody wants

MiaWallace · 16/02/2010 10:42

Can I join?

I'm in the third year of an education studies degree.

At the moment I have a good chance of graduating with a first class degree. This is a mixed blessing though since it has resulted in me having total writers block for fear of screwing up my chances of a first.

I have a 4 year old dd who is currently on half term so I don't imagine I will get any work done this week.

REALLY need to make a start on my dissertation soon though

madwomanintheattic · 16/02/2010 16:18

am reading, but no actual writing yet lol... but it'll come. mountains v lovely and skiing this afternoon

mia, i had the same thing re block. still plagues me now lol. i need to resubmit my dissertation proposal over the next week or so, but it's mostly drafted.

have fun half terming ladies!

Lenni · 16/02/2010 20:32

Hi everyone - welcome Tulips and Mia. Oh so familiar the fear of writing your dissertation. I just had to make a start and get something written, even though I have since scrapped everything from that first session of writing at least it got me going.

Tulips - sounds like you are up against it there. I am struggling with 2 DCs and two days of childcare so I really have the upmost respect for you even attempting to study. Is it possible for you to get someone to look after them in blocks of a few of days around assignment time? Perhaps get parents or other family to stay with you so you can do some intense study. Not ideal I know but might get you through until you get all of them at school/preschool? I would definately offload that committee job asap funny how the people who can least afford the time end up with these things? I always seem to end up taking on extra jobs I could really do without. My New Year's resolution was to say no more often, I've kind of managed it, ish.

Madwoman - get back to work! Or relaxing! At least your post means you have internet - stolen from cafe??

Molesworth - very sensible decision on the course, you don't want to compromise your main study by taking on too much.

I've applied to start a research degree leading to PhD, starts in September and should take 3 years now I just need to secure funding Is part of the deal with the research assistant post that I need to be a student, not sure if I am ready for this commitment.

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Lenni · 16/02/2010 20:33

Hello Fio too - sorry hadn't read back far enough. What are you studying?

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mixedmamameansbusiness · 17/02/2010 08:07

Hi ladies,

Welcome Fio and Mia and Tulips... tulips lol at your spreasdsheet but I am anal organised in an incredible way and my lists and charts know no bounds.

Lenni - echo that about the people with the least time takig on so much.

For the newbies:

2 boys 4 and 2
Studying for a certificate at Birkbeck leading (I hope) to exemption from the first year of a history degree.
Work 3 days
Lucky to have loads of family around to help out and have nursery

Lenni · 17/02/2010 14:19

Am having a major crisis with my lit review. I thought I was pretty much finished and then read a sample dissertation through this morning and have realised my lit review is totally off the mark. It is far to illustrative rather than being critical. I have now got to modify nearly 4000 words and the whole thing is starting to sound really stop start. Have emailed my tutor for help and advice, but of course I've chosen the day she is out to need help! Argh! I can't afford to lose today altogether.

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Lenni · 17/02/2010 14:20

too argh, now I can't even spell!

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Molesworth · 18/02/2010 10:38

Lenni, OUCH! I hope you've managed to get hold of your tutor, and that the rewrite isn't too painful

MiaWallace · 22/02/2010 13:21

Dd back in school today so I'm finally making some progress on my dissertation.

Have spent this morning designing my research instruments. I have written letters to send to parents tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I'm able to recruit my sample.

Have lectures this afternoon but hope to make a start on my literature review this evening.

Hoping everyone else is having a productive day.

Molesworth · 22/02/2010 14:15

You're putting me to shame, Mia

I have an essay to write this week (half term was not a productive time).

Re: literature reviews, I've just ordered Chris Hart's "Doing a Literature Review" from Amazon. Has anyone read it/used it?

madwomanintheattic · 22/02/2010 21:12

oh mia, well done you - good luck with getting your sample. what are you looking at? (always nosy, sorry!)

i didn't get my piece of work finished on hols - but i feel a lot more organised. i did loads of reading and feel much more fired up about what i'm doing and why - so i think it was time well spent. (and the weather was lovely and the skiing great, which helps lol)

kids have gone back to school, and i'm not back at work until thurs (altho' boss has rung me twice so far today to ask if i will provide cover in town for the next two days... total pita, so am being a bit fussy about hours ) so in theory should be able to get some stuff done now

all i have to do now is pluck up the courage to ask for next tues off. ulp. dd2 has a hosp appointment about 3 hours drive away, and dh has just told me he has to work. tis all routine stuff but it'll be the first time i've had to do the trip... and on my own... (aargh, am not a confident driver at the best of times, and the thought of driving around a foreign city with a 6yo mapreading fills me with terror - and that's after i've asked for the day off lol) so cross. the appointment has been on the calendar for 4 months, and dh had promised he would book a day off and do it. but apparently something else had been rescheduled and now he can't.

tis times like this that make me realise exactly where my own job comes on the importance scale (in my head i know he's the main breadwinner at the mo, but i really hate having to crawl to my boss and look like an unreliable idiot every time he pulls the 'more important' card. and it's always at the last minute )

anyway, lenni, where are you? are you drowning under the weight of your re-write? or sipping g&t somewhere?

mixedmamameansbusiness · 23/02/2010 08:57

H|ello all...

My bosses areincredibly understanding but I stil hate it when i have to ask for time off. You are not alone.

Well workmen have been here since Friday and making lots of noise but it doesnt seem to have been a problem. Planned my week in 2 hour blocks which at my reading speed is about 2 longish chapters. Yesterday I completed the first draft of my essay, have been working on it sporadically adding bullet points in to the body but just needed to really formulate cohenrent sentences. I am not looking at it until THurs/Friday and hope to have draft 2 and 3 respectively then hoping to get it in next week.

I am on leave this week and DC are at nursery - even if I keep them out of the workmens way my whole kitcen is in my living room and spare room.

Have DS1 bday at the weekend so had ILS Sat and my family Sun so no work.

Plan for today is starting at 10am.... got Eastern Europe essay research(have not started essay no.2) and theory reading for this weeks lesson.