so, spring semester has ended and i even received a personal e-mail from my professor tellin me that i got an A, did really well, and wishing me luck. That is the good news.

Now the summer term has started and i haven't found any sort of balance yet. I haven't been able to take tobi out to any fun kid places b/c i REALLY REALLY have to study. the problem is, i haven't been in a chemistry or math class in about 4 years and now i'm trying to pick up where i left off... '
So i'm not only learning what is going on in class, but reminding myself of all those things forgotten..
i know that there really isn't anything anyone can tell me... i'm just exhausted and feel badly for tobi (but this is an investment in both of our futures, and needs to be done)

At least some friends of mine are trying to arrange a weekly playdate for us so that we take a break and also trying to put together a girls night out for me (which i haven't been to one of those since my friend's wedding in 2003! - i'm generally a guy's girl)

Here is big hug for you and Tobi

Let that cute kid know that it is OK to let mom know he misses her while she is studying.

Hey, way to go!

You might not feel like you have a lot of free time now for Tobi, but things will work out. The playdate idea sounds great. When I had homework I would set aside an hour or two to do an activity with Gabriel, then my mom would entertain him while I worked. It is worth it, even if we might feel guilty. It's also important for us to be able to provide for our kids, and when you accomplish your goal you'll be ecstatic!

Keep it up.

Planning your time is sooo important for studying when you have a lot on your plate. It may not go as planned but you can still change it.

I completed my degree when I had two boys under 5 and sometimes waiting for them to go to bed didn't always work... I was tired by then. What worked for me was to start chunk reading.... one chapter would take about 1 hour so I would break it up into 15 minutes of quality reading. That would give me time to interact with my kids until they got preocupied with something else... about 5 minutes... Then I would chunk read again. When they went to bed, I would review what I read from my notes and check. I would use one of those push lights on my table to tell my boys I was studying and not to interrupt, push the light off they can ask me questions. This didn't always work for my older son, but the younger started to study with his bunny when he saw the light on and they did learn studying was important (It's like being on the phone, everything is important when you're on)

Change your guilty feelings, you're doing a great job showing your kids what it takes to be successful, and loving at the same time.

ooooo thx for the suggestions! i saw tobi playing with a toy laptop (playdate, so not his) it was a kids learning thing, but you know - had the mouse and everything. he was totally enthralled and sat on his friends "kids chair" and pulled the laptop into his lap and was the very picture of his mother with that intensity on his face! Cracked me up. So maybe i'll get him one and then he can study TOO!

Great news yesterday! I spoke with my advisor, and at the end of the summer semester i'll only be one credit, that is less than a whole class, from having my associates!

Then had an excellent conversation with my mother and apparently my grandmother is in a group of women who hand out scholarships to young women, within 2 years of getting their bachelor's and with children! I mean... how fitting is that. So, i thought i'd look into that and my mother said that b/c she is moving up here that she would watch tobi during the day so i could commit full time and not have to do night classes!

man things are looking up!