Hello friends!
I started my Fall semester this week… on a Wednesday… I have NO idea what’s up with that. My 2 week break was lovely, but now it’s back to the grind. And I must grind EXTRA hard this semester. I have to commute to school 5 days a week. f i v e. That sucks.
Oh well. It’s only 16 weeks. I got this. It was while I was trying to get ready for class this morning and Zoey was squirting shaving cream all over the shower as I applied my makeup that I started thinking about the many odd predicaments that I find myself in while balancing mom life with college life.
1. My kids regularly ransack my room while I’m in the bathroom getting ready. Funny, because they don’t leave me alone in the bathroom ANY other time.
2. I have taken a 2 hour final while covered in vomit. It was administered online and it was timed. I was smart and waited for bed time… tummy aches do not care about bed time… or finals. The timer also does not care about the ten minutes you need for a shower.
3. When you’re a College Mom you still endure the all nighters that regular college kids suffer, but you pull all day-ers the following day. Imagine meeting that morning with 2 well rested balls of energy… and they want oatmeal. like Now.
4. College Moms have to have write papers with munchkins in their laps, and I don’t mean the delicious little donuts. Damn you, regular college kids and your donuts!
5. Why do regular college kids get all of the donuts? I don’t have enough hands for a kid, a laptop, AND a snack.
6. I have not gone one SINGLE semester as a College Mom without a water damaged textbook. Toddlers are like blenders with no lids… I am a pro at reading wrinkly pages that have been stained Mott’s Strawberry Apple Juice red. Resumé worthy talent.
7. I also look like I highlight with crayon…. but I don’t highlight with crayon.
8. Worst of all, I have to explain to my two favorite people why I can’t bring them with me every time that I leave.
This delicate balancing act that I have going on, is an interesting dynamic to say the least. But I will say, that being a mother is a strange super power. I could never have endured this lifestyle prior to having my kids. I attend the same university that I did before I had them, but I have better grades than I ever did before. I take 5 upper division classes at a time, and have received few grades that weren’t an A. Until this summer I was also working 5 days a week. I was on the Dean’s List for the first time in my college career, and yet I sleep less than ever, have fewer hours to dedicate to my studies than ever before, and I’m so stressed out that my hair dresser noticed that my hair isn’t as thick as usual.
Is it weird that my mothering instinct has manifested itself in a ridiculous level of determination? I don’t know…but I hope the high lasts another 16 weeks and gets me through this last semester. It’s going to be a tough one.
Aren’t they so helpful? 😉 In all reality, being a College Mom means that some days you never make it further than clean underwear, that most of my pictures include a basket of unfolded clean laundry in the background, and that I’m one of the luckiest people in the world. Who says you can’t have it all?
Happy new semester to you! My Mom dropped out of college when she was going to have me and never went back–even now in her 40s she’s been denied the ability to work in jobs that she could handle easily simply because she doesn’t have a bachelor’s in anything. Getting education is usually worth it, though when you’re balancing little ones and education too, that makes it much more demanding!
Certainly demanding, but certainly worth it! It’s unfortunate that your mom is in that situation… many women in her age group are. I truly hope our generation can change that.
I want it all, career, kids, husband. Who says I cant? 😉
Happy new semester to you! My Mom dropped out of college when she was going to have me and never went back–even now in her 40s she’s been denied the ability to work in jobs that she could handle easily simply because she doesn’t have a bachelor’s in anything. Getting education is usually worth it, though when you’re balancing little ones and education too, that makes it much more demanding!
Certainly demanding, but certainly worth it! It’s unfortunate that your mom is in that situation… many women in her age group are. I truly hope our generation can change that.
I want it all, career, kids, husband. Who says I cant? 😉
Wow I LOVED this post! I’m only 20 and in college but I’m planning on having kids while I do my PhD so you have definitely prepared me for that!! I have a few friends who are college moms, and I am kind of in awe of them now! :O
Rebecca Lindenbach
haha! YES appreciate the struggle of your college mom friends! I was already a mom at 20, I am only 25 now. I had already come so far that I just HAD to finish, ya know? Pretty sure I’m going to apply to law school now as well. Student forever. lol
Wow I LOVED this post! I’m only 20 and in college but I’m planning on having kids while I do my PhD so you have definitely prepared me for that!! I have a few friends who are college moms, and I am kind of in awe of them now! :O
Rebecca Lindenbach
haha! YES appreciate the struggle of your college mom friends! I was already a mom at 20, I am only 25 now. I had already come so far that I just HAD to finish, ya know? Pretty sure I’m going to apply to law school now as well. Student forever. lol
You. Are. Superwoman.
haha. Not true, but thank you.
You. Are. Superwoman.
haha. Not true, but thank you.
I am in awe of you. I can’t imagine trying to go to school right now with my three boys. They have sucked out all my brain cells. I can barely hold a conversation, let alone take an exam. I wish you the best of luck with your studies and hope you do great!
I am in awe of you. I can’t imagine trying to go to school right now with my three boys. They have sucked out all my brain cells. I can barely hold a conversation, let alone take an exam. I wish you the best of luck with your studies and hope you do great!
Girl, it is the hardest thing I have ever done. But you know what you REALLY want something you just gotta make it happen some how. And thank you!
I commend you for finishing school with the little ones. I’ve always said that women who go to school and are moms are AMAZING! You’re awesome, girl! Don’t ever forget it!
Why, thank you! It’s tough but so worth it.
I commend you for finishing school with the little ones. I’ve always said that women who go to school and are moms are AMAZING! You’re awesome, girl! Don’t ever forget it!
Why, thank you! It’s tough but so worth it.
This is an awesome post! Go you! I know I felt some times like I wasn’t going to make it through college and I did not have two munchkins and a 5-day-a-week job to juggle. Props to you. You’re going to do great!
haha thanks! Although I DO NOT work 5 days a week anymore. That was some crazy stuff.
This is an awesome post! Go you! I know I felt some times like I wasn’t going to make it through college and I did not have two munchkins and a 5-day-a-week job to juggle. Props to you. You’re going to do great!
haha thanks! Although I DO NOT work 5 days a week anymore. That was some crazy stuff.
I’ve been a college student for two years with a kid. It is absolutely hard. For some of my online math classes I got up at 4 so my lecture would be done by the time I have to wake her up for school So when she is in school I am able to do all the homework.
I’ve been a college student for two years with a kid. It is absolutely hard. For some of my online math classes I got up at 4 so my lecture would be done by the time I have to wake her up for school So when she is in school I am able to do all the homework.
Such an inspiring and awesome post! That’s insane you go through all of this, work, take care of your children and so on. LOVED this! You go girl.
x- Naomi in Wonderland
Such an inspiring and awesome post! That’s insane you go through all of this, work, take care of your children and so on. LOVED this! You go girl.
x- Naomi in Wonderland