what do you think about single mothers who go to college?

I am a single parent in college, and I hate that I cannot be there for them for so many things. I unfortunately only have work experience in retail, and food service, which means: nights, weekends, holidays, unstructured schedule, no benefits. I often get people impressed that I am in school, and then almost a disappointed "oh" when I tell them it's for an associate degree. It's often followed by "does that pay a lot?"

Yes, being in school has drawbacks, neglect being one. I at times, feel like a monster for taking on so much. I have to create quality time that matters each day, and then do school after. I had to scale back to less than part time to accomplish this, and yes it took a little longer to finish. I am done this quarter, just in time for my son's elementary years. I am not going back to school to miraculously make more money, but to gain a better quality of life. M-F, 8-5. Stable hours, benefits, holidays off... no more nights and weekends, and crazy holiday hours. I get to be home at dinner every night, I can commit them to extracurricular events, and I never have to move our Thanksgiving again because I have to be at work. That alone, makes all this struggle worth it. Hang in there darling.

It takes a village to raise a child. I don't think it's realistic to expect the mother to be the caregiver the majority of the time when she is also the provider. As the provider, it is in the best interest to develop your skills. As long as your child(ren) are being cared for and not neglected then there is no problem.

You can get the support and help you need from relatives and friends. You don't need to have a man to take care of you and your family.

I have more of a personal problem with people that would send their child off to boarding school or would work for money to send their child to daycare with a little extra spending money in a two income family. I don't think public school is even the best environment to fully develop a child to the best of their ability. Class sizes are too large and this results in defacto neglect.

I do want to mention that getting a college degree is no guarantee that your future income will be better. You are not guaranteed to find employment at all in this economy. It may be a better strategy to build your own business. Read the book "Rich Dad/Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki.

Just think: with your own business, you will have the ability to involve your children in the family business and in that way you can provide an income and see your children more often.

I think you're sacrificing time with your kids now to give them more opportunities in the future and to give them a better life. I also feel this doesn't make you a monster or a neglectful mother. Doing this makes you a mom who made a tough decision but in the end did what was best for her family.

I think when your kids get older, they will realize and appreciate how much you did for them. They will see you as a strong woman and role model. However, now is a very important time in their life when they need you. Focus on taking some time off so you can make special memories with them. Life is all about finding balance. And no, you are definitely not a monster.

i'm hoping you're in a State that does what Roger is announcing In AL, there is not any such subject... basically an off-set to welfare, housing, foodstamps, newborn care assitance and what I advise via it somewhat is while/if the father get newborn help paymetns enforced, they pass to pay decrease back the state until now they pass to pay you My son has a chum who's interior the right comparable place as you're in now - she such as you is suporting a small newborn as a single mom. She such as you acquire criminal for Marijuana possesion & she such as you may no longer get everyone to interview her because of the fact of that. properly, enable me take that decrease back. She has gotten some interviews... places like WalMart (coping with money & mastercard numbers) say they are able to't hire her with the aid of criminal and the prospect of her coping with peoples tests, mastercard #s, and so on (which i think of is bogus.. she did no longer thieve somebody's identity).... shopper help companies can no longer hire her for the comparable reason. Her basically determination became to attend tables at a cafe... and not one of the chain eating places will hire her.. not one of the massive or nicer places will hire her. Her basically determination became the mercy/benevolence presented to her via a mom-n-pop, kinfolk owned BBQ joint. She is making an common of $7 - $8 in line with hour ($2.15 plus techniques) or maybe although she is in Nursing college, and there's a nursing scarcity, she is interior 6 months of graduating.... and he or she has talked to hospitals everywhere in the SouthEast... none of them will hire her as an RN because of the fact of her criminal. So, how is she meant to re-pay scholar loans & get the sturdy-paying activity to help her newborn that her dedication to her coaching could be able to discover the money for her........ her college Counselor had a large thought.. she could call the Re-Hab centers & tell them.. you recognize what.. i will perceive along with your sufferers... I even have been there, completed that & i would be happy to post to random drug tests at any time... so she already has that activity interior the bag for while she graduates.. the subject is what to do between now & then i actually experience for you the better of success to you :)

Honestly, it's good and bad. It is always good to better one's self; yet, less time with your children is rarely a good thing.

Depending on their age, explain to them why you are doing what you're doing to help them understand that it is all out of love for them.

Set up a special thing that you do weekly for them to get a lot of time with you doing things you both love to do.

well definately you did wrong, the wrong thing you did was that you didnt prepare yourself for life before having kids. So that's is something that you have to understand and probaby you already know that.

now the good thing you are doing is aimgin for sometihngh higer so your kidds get a better life. so this is better than keeping yourself in the same situation.

I agree with iloveHIM, and disagree with Aberd. People like you are heroes to me.

I couldn't care less....