Back to Uni? your experiences and opinions please

[maybebabymay]

SOOOO.......
I have a nine month old DS
We are about to start building our first home (pad ready to start building)
I work 20hours/week (we need this income in addition to dh's)
We want to try for another baby some time this year - after May

My question is- Should i go back to uni in semester 2 this year? OR Am i mad to even consider it?
Thoughts wise ladies?

[Purple Penguin]

It can definitely be done From experience it takes a lot of juggling things around but it's definitely doable.

[Trillian]

It can definitely be done. I'm doing 4 units, have the 4 kids and I have just started working 4 days per week this year so it's going to take some juggling for sure. so long as you are disciplined and make yourself do you study/assignments even when it's batpoop boring or hard and have the support of your DH to take some of the housework load etc then you should be fine. Maybe start with a part time load and see how you go.

[maybebabymay]

thanks ladies, i was thinking of going back part time initially. WOW Trillian 4 kids! what am i even worrying about, send me some of your wonder woman ability please!!!!! thanks for taking the time to reply Purple Penguin!

[Trillian]

My kids are older than yours though. I don't think I could have done it with one that little. My youngest was 2 when I started back in 2010 and now I have all 4 of them at school and the eldest is at boarding school. Plus I have a husband that works shiftwork so I do a lot of my work when he's on night shift and I can stay up as late as I need to getting work done. TBH, I'm ****ting myself that sooner or later I"m going to drop one of the balls I'm juggling - I'm studying primary teaching and I have a prac starting in a week for 4 weeks. THat's what is going to test me - doing a prac and staying on top of everything else. What are you going to study?

[Traveller]

I started studying when my kids were older than yours but I know others who have newborns and still manage it. As trillian says, the placement blocks are the hardest but they are not applicable to all courses. I am also working twenty hours a week but this coming trimester will be my first combination of work and study so I can tell you more in a month how that goes.

[Purple Penguin]

No worries What are you planning to study?

I'm in my final year this year and like Trillian, I'm studying Primary teaching, so on top of classes and assignments, I have my 2 kiddies, 7 & 3, a DH who works arvo shift and 3 lots of prac (2 left, 1 down already) plus a host of other commitments with my DD1's school and uni as well. It's by no means easy and my problem I have is keeping up with all the reading that I have but it's definitely worth it because I'm on the home stretch now and I have a great support network.

You can do it!

[krysalyss]

Yes it can be done, but it isn't easy and you do have to be realistic about what you can achieve in what kind of time frame. I went back when DS was 6 months and got PND from the pressure of everything. I ended up re-starting when he was 12 months but for me it was only achievable because DH was very hands on and essentially the primary caregiver, and worked around my timetable. It is very rewarding, but there would be no shame in waiting till after the house is finished (don't under estimate the time and stress of that as well). Having said that you can always apply and start and then drop out before the fee or census dates and then you would have had a taste of how much it would work. Good luck with whatever you decide

[surprised]

Based on my experience, I'd say you're mad. I started postgrad when I had a 11 month old. Did a semester, had to stop after that with severe morning sickness. Went back with a 6 week old and almost 2 year old and struggled just with 1 subject. Dropped out after that.

Having said that it depends on how much you are willing to sacrifice and how much support you have, and the nature of your other work.

[k4t]

My vote is you're mad. Just because it can be done doesn't necessarily mean its a good idea. But it also depends how much support you have with housework/childcare and how hands on you plan to be with the house

[maybebabymay]

Thanks for all the varying opinions, it's really helpful.
@purple penguin - I have 1 year of bachelor of nursing left then hope to do midwifery.

k4t - that is a very valid point. just because you can doesn't mean you should!! (like fighting fish in tiny, tiny tanks)

I am lucky to have a very supportive and helpful husband and parents who can't get enough of DS. My fear is that ill start, love it, get past the census date then get a massive attack of mummy guilt about not being there for Bub enough.

Food for thought ladies, cheers again!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

My DD is 17m and am finding it ok part time. I have 9 contact hrs (1st yr Mid) and still work ~25hrs a week.
I think the hardest thing if you *need* the income is flexible work arrangements and your timetable.
With 3rd year id say you need to accommodate prac and that would be harder again ??
My DH is now very helpful with the house and kids bedtimes etc so that has made me more confident.
As for being pregnant that i would not recommend. i started in 2011 and had to withdraw - i didnt get morning sickness but was incredibly fatigued all the time. i could not continue like that!
make a list of the pros and cons. By sem 2 your baby will be almost 14 mths old so definitely doable in terms of being a little less dependent on bfing etc. my dd still wakes 1-2 times a night and its hard but i weighed up how much i really want it, and id rather do part time slowly if i have to than wait 5 years for the time to be perfect!
if worse comes to worse, withdraw on census date! <3 good luck its a hard call.