黑料传送门

Taking on a degree program can be challenging during the best of times. But when you鈥檙e navigating being a parent in the middle of your educational pursuit, it might seem downright impossible. However, many students at 黑料传送门 are also parents. Single parents, working parents鈥攖housands of student parents have been where you are and accomplished their educational goals with 黑料传送门. Better yet, they鈥檝e discovered ways to include their family in their pursuit of a degree and learned how to set an example for their children in the process.

If you鈥檙e still debating how to fit a degree program into your busy life as a parent and how you can do so in a way that has a positive impact on your family, just take the advice from these 黑料传送门 graduates. They were once like you but found a way through in a way that drastically changed their lives鈥攁nd the lives of their kids.

Encouraging your kids to be involved in your schooling is an excellent way to demonstrate to them how learning is power. As they see how you apply yourself to your coursework, they鈥檒l be inspired to do the same with theirs.

鈥淎lthough they may be at a different level, if they are of school age, they understand educational expectations,鈥� noted Angela Gouker. 鈥淭ell them about your goals, paper writing and course completion progress. My children were just as invested in my education as I am of theirs.鈥�

An added bonus to this approach? Parents can give their kids more attention by collaborating on schoolwork together. 鈥淚 felt this really helped the most during times when they wanted my attention鈥擨 could give it because I was working through coursework,鈥� Angela said. 鈥淭hey understood the importance of what I was doing, so their disappointment was easier to handle.鈥�

This is a tactic Christopher Conver also employed, adding that including his family in the adventure made them a part of it. 鈥淲e study together, we do projects together, and occasionally we have done tests at the same time,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y oldest is about to start high school, and we have spent many nights in the living room studying together. My youngest is a toddler and loves story time, so she gets to hear all about cybersecurity.鈥�

And it also created the opportunity for a different kind of family bonding. 鈥淭he best advice I was given was from my mom,鈥� Christopher shared. 鈥淪he told me that it wasn't about how much time I spent with my family; it's about what we do when we spend time together.鈥� So while it鈥檚 important to make sure you have quality time with your family and do things outside of school, including them in your educational pursuit will resonate with them in positive ways for years to come.

It can be tempting to ignore lower test scores, botched projects, or other instances when you didn鈥檛 ace your coursework. But doing so robs your kids of learning a very valuable lesson: showing them how to fail is just as important as showing them how to succeed. And when they get to see you succeed, making them part of celebrating your success can create long-lasting memories.

鈥淏efore I started my master鈥檚 degree I was full of stress on the effects of my choices on my children,鈥� admitted Kayla Pendlebury. 鈥淪omething that helped and encouraged me was allowing my children to be a part of my education.鈥�

This is when Kayla got creative. 鈥淚 made a paper chain,鈥� she adds. 鈥淭here was one link per class that I needed to pass. On each link I wrote a fun family activity鈥攐nes that I knew would motivate my children and me. Each time I passed a class I would allow one of my children to rip off a link; then we would do the activity that was written on the link.鈥�

The result? Kayla鈥檚 kids became a source of encouragement, asking her to get her classes done so they could have fun. 鈥淭his idea allowed my children to take pride in what I was doing, allowed me to celebrate my successes, and allowed my family to grow closer and make memories while I furthered my education,鈥� Kayla shared. Her example proves that you can be open with your kids about your educational journey in a way that can support all of you.

They say kids are like sponges, absorbing everything around them鈥攚hich is why it鈥檚 crucial for you to show them how to handle life鈥檚 ups and downs. Being an example for them will help them develop skills that will help them manage the ups and downs in their own lives.

鈥淚 reminded myself that kids learn often by watching their parents, so by getting my degree while they watched, they would see that not everyone's path looks the same and that's ok,鈥� said Kelcy Workman. 鈥淲e were all at home, learning together during the pandemic, so I think they enjoyed having another connection to me in that we were all students at the same time. I spoke with them often about what I was doing and my goals.鈥�

Helen Callans also noticed that her kids followed her lead when it came to their schoolwork. 鈥淚 never had to tell them to do their homework because they saw me doing mine, and as I was studying, they did the same,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey also got to come to my college graduation. As I look back as a parent, I think example and working for what you love is the best guidance you can give your kids.鈥�

Late nights of studying. Missing out on family events. Family dinners of fast food. There鈥檚 no doubt you鈥檒l make a lot of sacrifices in taking on a degree program along with raising a family, but there are ways for your kids to understand what it means to you鈥攁nd for them鈥攆or you to get your degree.

鈥淲hen you share your goals, you will receive greater support from your spouse/partner and children in achieving them,鈥� said Rhyannon Jovan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 far from easy, as many sacrifices will need to be made to accomplish these goals. When you reach the finish line, your family will see what teamwork and dedication look like and will be more than willing to do the same to reach their goals!鈥�

Marsha Donaldson agrees and admits that her degree journey wasn鈥檛 easy. 鈥淚 missed a few events and was not able to spend a lot of time with my five children,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes I would feel guilty about that, but then I remembered that I was showing my children that sacrifices are necessary to achieve worthwhile things.鈥�

But to her, the end result was worth it. Why? 鈥淚 also showed them that it is worth it to invest in your education,鈥� Marsha shared. 鈥淣ow I have more time with my kids and grandchildren because I was able to have a career that values work-life balance.鈥�

And isn鈥檛 that what it鈥檚 all about in the end? So while it may be challenging as you鈥檙e going through it, the more you can demonstrate and explain to your family that there will be sacrifices, the more they鈥檒l understand why these sacrifices are worthwhile for the overall goal of getting your degree.