Top 10 Secrets of Moms Back at School

by Lori Johnston

Going to college can be an overwhelming and even scary experience for moms often trying to balance family life, work, and other activities. But you can successfully manage a return to school!

Get inspiration and encouragement from these Tweet-like tips. Take some time for these quick tips to help overcome your fears and insecurities about juggling your schedule, being the oldest one in the classroom, and performing well in your courses.

1. Locked myself away from kids 2 finish 40-pg paper due tmw!
Yes, it's best to plan ahead, but your best efforts to get things done well in advance may not always work out. Things come up, such as illnesses and babysitters canceling, that cut into your time to complete assignments. Face the pressure head-on and let your children know that you love them, but there are times when you need to focus on school.

2. Love Mother's Day bfast in bed, but best gift is college degree
Tell your family that making sacrifices to let you pursue a college degree is one of the best ways they can show you how much they love you. If you share how much they are a part of your pursuit for a degree, they will feel they have a stake in the process too - and maybe they will be willing to do the dishes while you're studying.

3. Appt today w/ college counselor for help
Don't hesitate to seek help for academic support through counselors, who can help you determine the best way to carve out time to study and complete assignments.

4. Catching up on a school work - tough but worth it
You likely won't be able to spend every day on school assignments, and you don't want to miss important events in your family's life. So go to the sporting events, birthday parties, and other activities such as vacations, but realize that you have to carve out time to catch up, and make sure that's before an important assignment or test.

5. Found grp with students my age today!
Seek out organized campus groups with moms and other adult learners, or create one yourself with others in your class or on campus or online. The support groups can help you throughout college, especially when you feel as if you won't make it through.

6. Studying while waiting to pick up kid @school, then karate
Find pockets of time in your day - 15 minutes in the pick-up line at school, or during a child's after-school activity - to read an assignment or flip through notecards in preparation for a test.

7. At student center - want 2 join me for study session?
Let fellow students know that you welcome them joining you to study - it not only will help you prepare for the test, but also get to know other students so you will overcome worries that you are the oddball because of your age.

8. Test stress... love hubby for handling bath time
Whether it's a task like bath time or as big as taking the kids for the entire day so you can finish a paper or complete a project, ask your spouse for support. As a team, you'll recognize that these efforts will pay off with your new career.

9. Hooray for first A on test in college!
Sure, go ahead and post that grade on your refrigerator along with your kids' report cards and successes, but don't be afraid to share your accomplishments with friends and strangers on Facebook and Twitter. The virtual encouragement could go a long way.

10. Need coffee NOW! #allnighterfuel
Most moms rarely have had a good night's sleep since the baby, but focus on getting at least more than a couple of hours of sleep before class so that you're alert and awake during the discussion or a test. You still may need to pull out the caffeine, but remember that you will have your diploma soon and will be on the way to your new career.