College Rule's or does Baby Rule? "How to Make Study Time While Holding a Bottle"

More and more parents are choosing to attend college. College is and still remains a mind-blowing experience in the sense that there will be a variety of learning styles and challenges your body and mind will be introduced to. Try adapting to writing papers, deadlines, continuous research and assignments. Then add children to the picture (Scary Uh!). That’s the same thing I thought when I got pregnant in my second year of college. The first thing that I thought about is how was I going to find study time. The second thing I thought about is will I ever have time to myself. The third and final thing I thought about is how would I be able to balance all this responsibility and still be a mother that nurture’s her child.

Organizing Study Time

Organizing study time can be a difficult task. Usually the first thing parents will say is, “ I don’t have enough time.” I can remember a few times when I said the same thing- until I started telling myself that there is enough time- I just don’t make enough time. When organizing study time you can start by asking yourself a few simple questions.

1. How much study time do I need?
2. When is the best studying time for me, when baby is sleep or awake?
3. What day or days will I be able to study?
4. When will I be able to play or spend quality time with my child?
5. Will I have time to study at my job (If working)? Bringing study materials to work and reviewing while on break can be beneficial tool.
6. Should I study when I get home or wait until the nighttime?

These questions will begin to make you think of ways you can find study time without neglecting your child or children.

Time for Yourself

This is the biggest commitment for parents to do- make time for yourself. I have spoken to many parents that were or have attended college and many of them said similar answers, when asked if they had taken any time for themselves. Most responded by saying, “I am too tired when I get home” or “There wasn’t enough time today.” There is that statement again “there wasn’t enough time
.” Like I stated above “there is enough time, it’s up to you to make enough time.” Here are a few questions you can ask yourself- when making the commitment to spend time with yourself.

1. How much time do I need to myself?
2. Commit to a set date and time.
3. What can I do to unwind (relax)?
4. Do I need a babysitter?
5. Explain to child or children the importance of time to yourself (depending upon age of child).
6. Unplug/turnoff Technology (cell phones, pager, Internet, television) these can be a distracter.

Allowing time for yourself is needed and can revitalize your brain- making you feel refreshed
and ready to tackle college life again.

Balance

Balance is the final step to making study time. Finding ways to create a balance can be hard, but is not impossible. I have recently interviewed a college student employed full time by the name of Mrs. Harris. I asked Mrs. Harris how does she manage to find study time with a small child. Mrs. Harris said, “ I usually take my assignments to work and study during my lunch period.” Mrs. Harris also says that she often feels like a “Hebrew slave” then laughed with a seemingly sigh of overwhelming work and studies. I asked Mrs. Harris how does she find balance between college, work, and family time? Mrs. Harris states that this is very hard to do. She also says that she sometimes locks herself in the bathroom to get time to herself or wakes up early (before anyone else in the house is awake) and studies or just takes a few minutes to unwind with a much needed cup of coffee.

Overall, when making study time for college life and quality time for family life, we can now see that balance is an essential need. Balance people- balance is the key!

Kateema Shaheer-Miller
Houston, TX