OU students, is it hard to balance motherhood and studying? The truth!!

[yingers74]

Hello, have a 2 year old and am expecting another one in Nov. Thinking of taking an OU course in the new year, am I taking on too much? Am thinking of starting with a 30 point course first.

I don't have plans to return to work for at least another year/18 months after the birth of the baby, but am interested to know whether other mums found OU courses good for helping with finding new directions/jobs.

Thanks TSAP. I had decided on DSE212 as I read in the course description for ED209 that it's better to do that before ED209, but wondered what real live completers of both courses thought! Sorry, I forgot that SD226 is not compulsory yet.

I've done DD100 too, but in 2001. (Seems so long ago now lol)

Good luck for the Early Years certificate, it all sounds so exciting!!

I think I will need lots of luck, have never done two courses before ( and didn't really want to) but I need to get some kind of early years qualification to keep my job and I have been doing well with my psychology so wanted to keep the momentum rather than have a break.

Good for you, you'll probably love it!! Don't forget to drop by and let us all know how you're getting on. You and Kelly can give us all the encouragement we need!

What job have you got?

I work for Homestart running mother and toddler groups and play sessions.

Hi all, I'm new to this, so hope you don't mind me joining in the conversation!!
I've a daughter who will be 3 in September, i've just finished my first year doing a joint degree and have found it so difficult juggling studying and being a mother that i've decided to defer for 2 years until she is in school.
I didn't take this decision lightly and thought long and hard about it, but i think that its for the best!!!
I envy everyone who does manage to cope and wish them the very best!!

Thank you all for your answers and this debate, it has given me some food for thought! But does show you how bad I am at balance, I started this thread and have only had the chance to check it now!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, am not looking to have a degree as I was lucky enough to have done one in the past (many moons ago). I have no direction though in terms of what I would like to do in the future, I worked before being a mum but no real career. So am thinking of doing all sorts of courses and see what causes a spark that will shed some light. I am actually thinking of starting with a maths course as bizarrely I have a real desire to do some sums and then perhaps move onto essay type courses later & a bit of science. The idea both excites and scares me, I guess a bit like motherhood!!! Anyone else taken the level one maths courses?

I am amazed at all the discipline you ladies have, when i start will let you know how it goes!!! I wish you all the best in your studies!

emma - wish u luck when u start up again.

Hello. Yingers, I think that whether the course will be too much will depend on the new baby's temprament (spelling?). I found a level 1 60 point course very easy to manage with one child, but two 30 point level 2 courses were a little too much, probably due to the non-sleeping new arrival. I passed OK but needed a year off! You won't necessarily need to sign up straight away though.

I did SD226 in its first year and can recommend it thoroughly. I imagine by now that the many glitches have been sorted out.

Oh, mimiasovitch, that was one on my list! Not sure whether to do a level one or two...

If it's level one then I am thinking of K100. Need to register soom for that though!

Wow, SD226, I've heard that's a nightmare course! I'm planning on taking that next year, and doing DSE212 (psychology) and SK277 (human biology) this year to prepare for both aspects of SD226, but still worried. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Have you decided yet Gillian?

Hi Steffee, sorry for not getting back to you before now - dd's birthday and family staying over the weekend ...

DSE212 was DSE202 when I did it, which meant that the extra project bit of dse212 was included in dse202 as a residential school (but i think they are essentially the same course really). DEFINATELY do this before ed209 - I realyl enjoyed ed209 but think that dse212 will give you a good theoretical background. I credit transferred from a previous degree so have only done the four core courses required for BPS recognition but in a mad moment I also studied SK220 Human Biology and HEalth) - 30pts, level 2 and still as much work as a 60 pointer!

Although i am finished this year i am sorely tempted to do the Brain and Behviour one (SD226?). DH is going mental at the thought of another year of me continually going on and on about my "bloody studying"!!!!

lol ScotsBrid, yeah it's addictive isn't it?

I have signed up for DSE212 starting in Feb and SK277 (it might be the successor to the one you did? It's 30 points and called Human Biology). I've been reading the FC board for SD226 and they say you really need some biology knowledge, so if you did decide to do it, your human biology course will come in handy as preparation.

Are you doing a masters? If so, you could maybe tie SD226 in with the courses needed for the masters, unless you need all masters courses for that...

Hope your dd had a happy birthday, thanks for replying.

Hi Steffee, no still haven't decided! Think it's more the level 1/2 thing than the particular course. Don't have much longer to register for Oct courses now. Eek!

OK I have finally decided to go with SK277 starting on 5th November. You and I can keep each other company, Steffee

I did 90 points a few years ago, with 3 small children and a full time job. some nights, I didnt go to bed at all to get a tma done. then I had to go to work the next day! never again I can tell you.

Yay Gillian! We can motivate each other! I got my forms today, I can't wait... gonna sign it in a minute before I change my mind.

Oh, NN, I'm worried now... still, if I want to get a degree in this lifetime I need to get moving.

go for it steffee. my only mistake was doing 90 points! 60 or 30 is much more manageable, and enjoyable. I still refer to some of my course texts because they are the best material on the subject that I have ever found.

I'm doing 90 this year NN - though 30 starting in Nov and 60 starting in Feb so might be ok if I can get right ahead with the first one.

I agree with the material, it's fantastic. I have a place for full-time uni this year but am turning it down to stay with the OU.

Can you work through things at your own pace? Steffee you say "get ahead" with the first course

Really looking forward to getting going and getting my "teeth" into something interesting!

You can work to your own pace. You get a timetable - like a suggested study calendar which includes everything, the reading, listening to tapes, tv programmes etc and the TMA deadlines. I always try to work two weeks ahead of that, but IME always at least double what they say you need for the TMA.

You can read ahead as much as you want (or can) but having to wait for tutorials and returns of TMAs (and scheduled TV programmes) messes it up a bit, because with the tutorials you'll get essential info on TMAs and obviously, you don't want to go ahead and do another TMA before you've got the last one back, in case you've totally messed it up and need to take a different approach. (That said though, I think with a 30 point course, TMAs are two months apart so it might not be too difficult).

A good bit of advice is that tutors are all different, you will have to learn how they like the TMAs to be, so don't be put off if you get a low first TMA score. And also, IME, ignore the word count, I always use double the words otherwise you can never mention everything you need to to get the marks.

Thanks steffee. Good to have "inside info"

Do you get any of the materials ahead of time, or just at the start of the course?

You usually get them upto two months in advance but if they've made changes it could be the week before the course starts. There's a site saying when the materials will be despatched, I'll try and find it now.

It's scheduled to be sent out on the 14th October.

According to this

It looks like I'm the only one doing chemistry then! I'm doing two 30pts, 3rd level courses next year, along with a summer school. I think the work load is going to increase somewhat Fortunately, I have an extremely supportive husband, and the children are great too - they get to see me studying and I think it's rubbing off on my DS (age 9½) - he's even done some work during the summer holidays!!

I think the OU is great. Only three more years to go.