A college education is a big priority for many American’s these days but it, unfortunately is not always as easy for women to finish a degree. Mommyhood can often get in the way of achieving the simple goal of graduation. But it is possible, mommies do it every day and no one will ever be prouder of their accomplishments than their kids!
I, myself, completed my Master’s degree after having Honeybun despite setbacks due to the pregnancy and birth and while working. This, though, is the story of another woman who completed her college degree while mommying two young daughters: my mommy!
My goal in life was always to get a college degree, but life seemed to keep getting in the way as a recent high school graduate in 1966. Family health issues required frequent trips home from college which impacted my grades. I flunked out.
I waited my required year to re-enroll, had saved the money to pay for the next two years. I found myself pregnant and got married. I should have waited a bit longer before getting married as I lost the baby shortly after. That chapter of my life is a story unto itself that lasted for four years. During that time I was working for a large family owned manufacturing company.
After a divorce, I took advantage of the company tuition program on and off for many years. The company, along with a local university offered a 7-year night school program geared toward working adults. The classes were held at the company. Since I had taken night courses between high school and then, I had the required 2 years of college credit and joined the program. I told myself it would not take the allowed 7 years to complete. All but one year of my college was paid for by the company. I only had to pay for books.
During the next 7 years, I worked full time, got married and had 2 children.
Classes were held for four hours one or two nights a week from 6 to 10 pm. In the beginning classes were at the company, but as people dropped out of the program it became too small to have classes there, so I attended at the main campus about 20 minutes from home. I found this very easy to accomplish as I had a very willing husband who took my education seriously. I was taking a full course load of 12 hours. Classes ran for four weeks and I did one class a month, very intense but over very quickly.
The thing that made this easy for me was having a partner that was willing to make mac and cheese with peas and carrots dinner for himself and the kids. That’s the only thing the oldest thought he could make so that’s what she asked for every week. He is actually really a good cook when given the opportunity.
He also was willing to watch the kids when I needed to meet with students outside of class for projects.
When I studied, he would take over all aspects of child care, from diapers to baths and everything in between. I never came home to a mess and he did more than I expected.
While it did take me the full 7 years, I did graduate with honors and 3.75 GPA. It took me a total of 21 years to graduate from college and the full support of my husband during the last seven years. My two children, then five and two, attended graduation. A good support system is essential to success as a working, college student, mom.
