I am thinking of going back to study for next year. I will be doing my Masters of Education (ESL) or my Masters of Educational Studies (Administration). Haven't decided which path I want to go down. We are having a HUGE influx of African Families here in Perth, especially in the area I work. So I am thinking I might go back to do ESL studies but then again I would like to move into Admin and the Educational Studies would be a great way to do that.

I will be studying part time and working full time and also running around after the 3 kids!!! I have studied with kids before. In 1995 I went to Uni for the first time to begin my Bachelor of ECE and then found out I was pregnant! I had Emma in the December and she came to Uni the following year for a few of my classes. One of my lecturers from the end of 2nd semester 1995 had a baby shower for me!!! LOL she brought in this HUGE basket of goodies for me and said that she was really happy to hear taht I wasn't going to give up Uni once the baby had arrived. I took Emma in to see her the following year and she told me that if anyone gave me a hard time to let her know LOL.

When Em was about 8mths old we moved to Warracknabeal and I studied externally part time but because of the move I was no longer working which made Studying a little bit easier. I found a fantastic Family Day care provider who lived on a small farm and Em loved going there and seeing all the animals! That made studying so much easier! I did a prac in Horsham for 2 weeks (a 120kms round trip) and Em went to day care full time.

We moved 12 months later to Bordetown and I was still studying and while on my Kindy prac found out I was pregnant. Jack was born in the mid year break (good timing) but the lecturers at Uni were great and told me to get assignments in when I could etc as I was so tired, especially studying and looking after a 2 1/2 yr old! When Jack was born I used to study when he slept (which luckily was most of the time) and once he was 12 weeks he used to go to day care one afternoon a week (feed him before and then when I picked him up) and once he was 6 months he was on a bottle so he went 2 afternoons. Then we moved again!!! This time to Loxton.

I had a 4 week prac this time and my XH's Mum came and looked after the kids for me. They usually went to day care but couldn't get them in for the full time hours. Then in October 1999 we speerated and then I moved back to Adelaide. I made the decision to go to Uni full time for my final year and it was great. I got JET support to pay my day care fees and had very few contact hours. I had one prac at the beginning of the year (carried over from 2nd semester the year before... wasn't a good time for me to try and teach!). My final year I passed everything with a credit average and still got to be home with Emma and Jack one day a week (Fridays).

Now I don't know how I will go ... Emma is in Yr 6, Jack in Yr 2 & Asha is now 2. Can I study part time and work full time ... who will look after the kids? Ryan doesn't finish his MBA until the end of 1st Trimester next year so should I wait .... anywho ... This is really long winded and was only supposed to be a quick reply (hence the name of the box LOL) .. apologies.

Good luck to all those studying, thinking of studying and congratulations to those of you who have finished!

Cheers