I will be working part time and going to school full time while still raising my two teenagers on my own. Luckily my parents are providing free room and board for the duration. Any advice besides the generic study hard or get enough sleep?!
132949
If you feel secure that your teenagers will be receiving the attention and help with growing up (a very hard time for kids) then go for it with gusto.  Your most important job is raising your children and giving them a good start in life.  It will be your most rewarding...worth more than gold or position in someone else's quest.  That covered, get all the education you can for your own future.  Your children will have enough to do getting their own careers going.  I admire your wanting to get on with schooling.  I did.  At age 47 I decided to finish Jr. college. Then went on to persue a ba in computer science.  Even mastered my nemasis, math...got a B in Calculus.  Would have gotten an A had I read the whole question!  Good luck.
151271
I am a single mother of two and I went back to school 1 1/2 years ago and I will be graduating next year with a bachelors degree.  It is hard but worth it in the long run. Your children will be proud of you and you will be happy that you accomplished something that you have been dreaming about. GO FOR IT!!! I also work and take my kids to their activities, too. The only help I get is from my babysitter. You can do it. More than likely your children would like to follow in your foot steps, maybe not being a lawyer but going to college. I go to a University once a week and they call it full time.  They go around your work schedule. I would check in your area to see what colleges are good for you and explain to a counselor what your dilemma is and maybe they can offer advise on what would be best for you.\nGo to school it will change your life forever!!\nGood luck:)
454508
I like you was a stay @ home mom and single, 1st thing is to take time out for you, what worked for me was joining Bally's total fitness it helped me feel better about myself and now I;'m in great shape, I'm also a fulltime student majoring in Psyc, on the weekends I only watch tv, have my faviorte meal and the kids go to grandma's i found havein my 15,13 and 7 year old on a scheldue made my days and nights better, my 7yr old knows if momy's door is shut i need alone time, I hope you find theese items useful, also prayer changes things!!!!
93757
It's better to take the 2 8 hours shifts rather than working 16 hours straight. Although it might sound like you have more time to study with the second option, but after you strained your body like that, how would you ever have the energy to study anymore? \n\nI've tried working 14 hours straight a day for months, and i was far too fatigue to do anything else although i tried to rest as much as possible. Maintaining the balance is more important than stretching yourself to the extreme. All the best!
405246
This might be a very hard thing to do, but get rid of your TV. If it's not there to distract you, you could spend those 2-4 hours reading books. But on the other hand... People need to take breaks. It is very unhealthy to over exert yourself. And if you repress your feelings for a break now, you might end up growing up to be lazy. My cousin used to study hard as hell when he was in high school, and he used up all his fuel then, so when he went into college, where the rules are very relaxed, he took full advantage of the relaxed environment and became lazy. He's still very smart, but he's taking his sweet time finishing college. And there is a part of him that feels bad about it, but he just over worked himself during high school, and this is what he is now. People NEED to relax. But if you want to over exert yourself, I believe you should have the right to make that mistake. My suggestion, take the TV out of your room. And tell your parents not to allow you to watch television, or something. Have them buy a TV Blocker that requires a password.
147705
Go with what works for you. This may interrupt your life later on after college but for now just sleep when you want
252052
Leave the college girl to herself. She can do it without you. She is growing up and has to find the courage and will in herself. An encouraging phone call is all you can do. The 2nd level son might need a little nudging (boys do) but he can do most of it. The special needs son probably needs the most help book wise. School is almost over so when all kids are thru I suggest you get the 2nd level son to work with the special needs son. It's a big lesson on patience for a guy but very good for them. The husband can give a little time when he is off to give you a break. Yes he works hard but so do you. You have to make time for yourself or you will be no good to any of them. You will get some resistance but do it anyway. Deligate for your own sanity.\nBeen there done that only there were 6 kids involved. Mom made us help each other. Yeah I hollered then, I was a teen.\nBut looking back I learned alot working with my siblings. Good luck.
312425
stick with a job--even if you dont like it, this is no time to be picky, I know it will be extremely difficult with the little kiddies, but take some college classes, one at a time if necessary, and you will broaden your options and open doors that were once closed and then you will have more control over your destiny I commend you for wanting to take care of your kids by yourself that is admirable but for now you have to do what you have to do
642648
Awww bless you! My Daughter is in same position as you,and so is most that is going to high school,dont be scared,relax and enjoy it you will love it I bet! good luck.
237393
I work at a University - below is a link to la list of study skill guides we produce. You should talk to your student services department at your college - they should have tips from previous students and guides for life/study balance.\n\nDo as much work in your College library as you can - there are no distractions there. Even an extra hour a couple of times a week would be good. Study during your lunch break. Design easy study flows that can be picked up and put down to learn the basics - keep these next to the toilet, the bath, bed, in the kitchen, and swot up whenether you can.\n\nTalk to your tutors if you have any difficulty at all. they are the profesionals, they should be able to help, they do not want you to fail, they want you to do as well as you can.\n\nGood luck! You can do it! Mature students make better students than kids - they have decided themselves to learn, rather than being forced to.
210763
I give myself a study quota every day. I have been working on my master's thesis right now and working full time and wanting to spend time with my family. I have promised myself that I work on it 2 hours per day, 6 days a week, and more only if I want to (like if I am getting a lot done). I have asked the people around me to support me in this. It has gone well. (In fact, I will finish it today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--as you can tell, I'm a little bit happy about that. It has been a huge part of my life for months and months and months now)\n\nAnyhow- keep your daily quota and reward yourself. (when I was getting started, I wasn't very good at it, so I said that for every day I did it for the first two weeks, I could buy a song off of iTunes when I was done - then I went to a week - if I did it for the whole week, on Friday I could buy my favorite breakfast burrito on the way to work, etc.)\n\nGood luck!!! You can learn lots from your friends, don't underestimate that. But your diploma will make a big difference in employment opportunities, etc. Don't give up on that part of your education, too.
483090
I loved my first week of college. Work load really depends on how many classes you are taking. 12 hours isn't too bad. Good luck and hope you enjoy your college life. It goes by SOOO fast. I'm a junior right now and feel like my life has just flown by!
198459
I was the same way- I kind of waited til the last minute to study- even for finals, but yet, somehow I ended up a doctor- I'd go somewhere - not a library- but somewhere you are comfortable- I chose a late night cafe when it wasn't crowded or a super market that had a dining area that wasn't crowded - you have everything at your disposal but the distractions are much less- I even studied for my boards the same- I know its not too specific- but I hope it helps!\nThere's not too much you can do at this point but go over notes or study the books, but this is the best advice I've got!
199641
I say stick with the homeschooling.  That's where you feel most comfortable.  If you get thrown back into public school, you're routine will be drastically and it may affect your learning because you'll be so focused on making every day "normal" again.
623614
Bravo, for furthering your education!  I just finished my master's degree and am starting my doctorate this fall.  Both of my parents went to college when I was in high school, and it was hard for them.  On one hand, it did stress to me that education is important, but on the other, they struggled to meet the demands of family, work, school, finances, etc. and I knew I didn't want to do it that way.  It's good that you're thinking of doing it early in your family life and before you have other children (my parents had 4 of us from ages 16 to 6 when they went back).  And setting an example for your daughter will be an added benefit.\n\nCommunity college is a good way to ease into going back to school.  I went to a kind of community college (a small branch of a large university) for my first two years of school and then transferred my credits to another university to finish my BA.  You'll take the same general education courses (math, writing, history, etc.) at most colleges/universities anyway, so it might be a good idea to take some (less expensive) community college classes, get to know what you'd like to study, and transfer if you decide it's your cup of tea.  I highly recommend that route; obviously, I loved it!  \n\nGood luck!
374445
I am both a student and a mum to two young children, which I'll have you know is quite a strain!\nSo yes I should go to bed but I only get time to myself while the kids sleep. So I think I'll ignore you advise!\nThanks for worrying though! lol!
417959
I like flash cards...... absolutely helped me alot when i took general bio, A&P and stuff like dat.  And when you do study don't sit there for like 3 hours straight without a break, take breaks give your brain a rest about every 1.5 hrs.  Also review your notes right before bed... so when you wake up the notes are fresh in mind.