8 Ways Moms Can Be Stellar Students

in Moms Going Back to School by Salie — May 3, 2011 at 11:21 am | 1 comment

Tips for Middle-Aged Moms Returning to School

Do these describe you? The children grew up faster than you thought they would, and now you’re considering a return to full-time work. You feel so blessed to have been able to stay at home with the kids, but now you’re ready to go back and finish that degree that you put off. It can be intimidating, walking into a classroom full of kids who could be your own children. But you have a great deal to offer. Don’t sell yourself short, and don’t underestimate the value of your Mom experience.

Challenges

• A hectic schedule is the biggest challenge. Whether the kids are still home or off to college, you still have a house to run. You like cooking for your husband, and laundry slows down for no one.

• You may feel intimated by the younger students. But as Eleanor Roosevelt said, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

• Your kids still need you. Even if they’re out of the house with children of their own, they still need their mother. And, because you’re a great Mom, you’ll still be there for them.

How to Be Successful

1. Put past failures behind you. Just because you never understood chemistry when you were in high school does not mean it will beat you now. You are intelligent, and you’ve got years of helping your own kids with science behind you now. Don’t let past failures make you afraid of future success.
2. Get a mentor. Find a professor you click with or someone else who will support you. Share goals, dreams, and fears with this person. Let them inspire you to keep going.
3. Don’t let the husband drag you down. If he’s supportive, that’s great. If he’s not, then remind yourself of all the struggles in your life, and how well you’ve sailed through them.
4. No excuses allowed. Remember that every person who ever quit anything had an excuse, but you are not in this to quit.
5. Follow your passion. After all, it’s true that if you love what you do then you will never work a day in your life. You’ve raised your children and now you are enriching yourself. Do it by learning more about something you already enjoy.
6. Use that volunteer experience. Most housewives don’t sit at home and do nothing. They’re active in the community. Put that experience to work for you. It’s valuable at school, and it will be valuable at your future job.
7. Consider an online program that will fit in nicely with your schedule.
8. Take advantage of your age. Some schools are offering grants and programs designed for older students. Former military personnel can also take advantage of special grants.

You may have given up the dream of a college degree years ago, but that dream can be revived. Don’t be afraid to go back to school and follow your bliss. Whether you want the degree for personal satisfaction or for the leg up it will give you in a job search, getting the degree will be a proud moment for you. It will also be an incredibly proud moment for your children.

 

Have you been thinking about going back to school now that you are an empty-nester? Consider distance learning. Take classes in the comfort of your own home.

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