Common Sense? Not for Me! Working/schooling Mamas, How Does This Work?

Okay... For ME... The great thing about (well,one of) school
WAS being able to miss class not only when my son was sick, but also 'minor' things like tantrums (and dealing with them right then and there instead of having to reward the tantrum).

I have the syllabi. I know what's being covered/assigned. I can read on my own. I can get noted from other students. I can email my profs (actually developed great working relationships with several PURELY from emailing and office hours from missing class), I can go in during office hours, I can (for missed labs) go in during open lab.

The ONLY 2 days I couldn't miss we're midterms and finals. I made sure to have backup childcare for those days in case he was sick (happened a few times!).

In all my years in school, I've only had one class with an Attendence policy that wasn't x'd out by doing extra credit and having a good working relationship with my professor. (It was a 'fluff' class, too, taught by an idiot. He docked someone for being in a car accident where they had to be hospitalized for 3 days. Rolls. Eyes. Most classes are MUCH more reasonable).

It's part of why I preferred being in school instead of working, when my son was little... Because the schedule was soooooooo flexible. ((Ecen nursing practicums, nurses have kids).

Childcare - set up a back up team before hand, people you have asked beforehand to watchyour kid during work/school/volunteer times. Don't call them unless its an emergency - you don't want to cry wolf.

Balancing life is all about time management. Make things as simple as possible and take short cuts when you can. You won't be prepared for the world outside unless you feel in control and managed from inside your home. So,1) declutter - throw everything out that you won't need immediately for family, work, volunteer, school 2) find a calendar system that works for you and LIVE BY IT, whether online, on your phone, a daytimer or year long calendar you can hang up on the wall 3) meal plan and do one housekeeping thing a day, whether its laundry, dusting, vaccuming or cleaning toilets 4) wake up before everyone else does! This will make such a difference in your day.

Good luck with school and everything else. I always get excited when women get involved in things to improve their situations whether out of need or interest. You go girl! Best of luck :)

So far as school and everything else I took the dive in the deep end approach. Figured that left me two options, sink or swim and I am just not the sinking kind of gal if that is my only other option. :)

So far as sick kids go I was lucky, for one my kids are almost never sick, but also I had my dad, my older kids, to pinch hit if I needed. The only time my dad wouldn't help would be if my kids had the plague and fortunately they never got the plague. :)

Pretty much look into this while they are healthy. There are sitters that specialize with sick kids, you have to pay more but hey, these crazy people will watch sick kids!! See if there is family that may help in a pinch. The other nice thing about sick kids is they tend to get sick in groups. Make nice with a stay at home mom at school. See if she wouldn't mind taking your daughter if her child happens to be sick at the same time.

You have to be clever but it can be done.

Do as much prep the night before. Make sure that you've sifted backpacks (theirs and yours) for any notes - tests, field trips, forms, notices about diapers needed, etc. Make sure everyone has an outfit they can leave the house in. Pack lunches. In fact, when you shop, put the lunch stuff away on the same shelf. Ours all goes under the microwave hutch unless it's a fridge item. Grab and go. Make your departures upbeat and short. Get to class, focus on class, and then go home and enjoy the kids as much as you can while doing the family stuff. Get a crock pot - it is your friend. Dinner when you walk in the house.

If you are concerned about sickness, start thinking now about backup sitters and find out how many days you can miss class without being docked. Know in advance what to do.

Charge your phone near your keys!

Good luck!

It really does take a village and you need to assemble yours. You need some daily care providers to take care of your kids when they are sick. It is also helpful to have some kind of safety network of family and friends that can pitch in when these things happen and they will. There are times you will be unable to attend classes but that should be few and far between. I did have to bring my nephew to me for classes on two separate occassions because his mother was out of place and he was with me.

I just made certain before class started that I changed his diaper, fed him and slipped him a little tylenol to take the edge off. The teacher commented that he was the best baby he ever encountered.

Long story short you like many of us will figure out a system that works for you and your kids through trial and error.

Congrats on your future.

Great tips already....but I have to know...how did you or they find the ex?

Smooze that friend who will be watching your oldest to babysit when they are sick and can't go to kindergarten/daycare. Other than that, you can interview babysitters through sitter.com to find someone who may accept an on-call type situation where you can call him/her on short notice. Also, you WILL need someone for all those school holidays and breaks so hopefully you can find someone willing to work on that sort of a schedule.

Good luck! Sounds like you're going to be crazy busy!

Congrats on everything and good luck to you!!!!!! On those sick days, you have to get a sitter or, family member involved. How about the good friend who will motor your daughter around. Perhaps you can make an arrangement with her for those sick days.