After reviewing and searching many sites I found it quite interesting the shopping list that are posted for students. Not only can you get a personal shopping list for your child’s teacher of the things they will need, but some sites make up their own stuff of the cool things your child might need.
With this is mind it got me thinking that could a new parent in college use these lists as a background for what they may potentially need? On coolmompicks.com there is an article with suggestions on what the cool mom pick is for back to school shopping. I know we are already well underway into the school year but I figured it may be interesting to keep in mind for next time.
This site not only gives the cool pens, pencils, book bags and lunch bags to get but also clothes. As a student this year I never thought to get a new wardrobe for the beginning of the new semester, nor would I even think to have the money too. I know when I was young we did go back to school clothe shopping but now being a mother in school, I feel maybe I should get the same perks!
Wouldn’t it be fun if they made a website for parents going back to school and it gave you all the new trendy clothes and bags to purchase, along with pens and pencils? Staples.com gives you the deals they have going on for generic stuff you will need, the pens, pencils and notebooks, but why not through in a new laptop for mommy? Why not let me splurge on something since you get to splurge on clothes?
I know this now probably sounds like a bratty rant but I never thought about it till now. When did I stop going back to school shopping for clothes? I think I was in high school. Why did I need a whole new wardrobe then? Since I needed it then, why not now?
This may seem childish but I thought it would be fun to consider putting myself back into that Back to School Shopping Mode and all the fun stuff that I could get. Only if life actually happened that way?
2009 Back to School Shopping List. http://www.coolmompicks.com/backtoschool09/
Shopping List. www.staples .com
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Obama's Plan
While searching the internet for articles on moms going back to school I found two interesting articles about how our President is planning on helping parents, mostly mothers, go back to school.
Both articles are a snapshot into a scholarship grant that President Obama is putting out there for mothers to go back to school. Fathers are allowed to use this too but it seems as though it is directed more towards mothers.
It is known that President Obama is very into education and with the economy on a downward spiral and not a lot of jobs out there is seems as though this is the perfect time for stay at home parents or non-working parents to go back to school and get a better education. I see it as an incentive for when the economy does boost again and there are jobs available we will have people to fill those jobs now.
The article only skims the surface of the plan and according to the article you can apply for the scholarship/grant while filling out your fafsa. I wish this would have been available at the beginning of this year when I applied for school. Maybe I would have gotten a little more grant money instead of loans.
Hopefully this is something serious that stays in effect for a year or two. I think it is a great idea to get people going back to school now instead of not doing anything. Maybe once our economy starts to rise again and people have taken advantage of this we will be looking at lower unemployment rates.
I know it may seem a little on the stressful side, going back to school while having children at home, but the thought of being able to give them more in the future and going to get a job instead of going back to school while they are in school, seems a lot more reassuring. I know this semester has had its up and downs so far for me with having a 4 month old but I am glad I am doing it now and not later when I want to be at his games and activities.
Moms Returning to School - An Obama Project. Oct 6, 2009. http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/obama-makes-scholarship-deals-with-moms-going-back-to-school-all-women-get-10000-to-help-out-1287169.html
Obama Makes Scholarship Deals with Moms Going Back to School - All Women Get $10,000 to Help Out. Sept. 30, 2009. http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/moms-returning-to-school-an-obama-project-1307264.html
Both articles are a snapshot into a scholarship grant that President Obama is putting out there for mothers to go back to school. Fathers are allowed to use this too but it seems as though it is directed more towards mothers.
It is known that President Obama is very into education and with the economy on a downward spiral and not a lot of jobs out there is seems as though this is the perfect time for stay at home parents or non-working parents to go back to school and get a better education. I see it as an incentive for when the economy does boost again and there are jobs available we will have people to fill those jobs now.
The article only skims the surface of the plan and according to the article you can apply for the scholarship/grant while filling out your fafsa. I wish this would have been available at the beginning of this year when I applied for school. Maybe I would have gotten a little more grant money instead of loans.
Hopefully this is something serious that stays in effect for a year or two. I think it is a great idea to get people going back to school now instead of not doing anything. Maybe once our economy starts to rise again and people have taken advantage of this we will be looking at lower unemployment rates.
I know it may seem a little on the stressful side, going back to school while having children at home, but the thought of being able to give them more in the future and going to get a job instead of going back to school while they are in school, seems a lot more reassuring. I know this semester has had its up and downs so far for me with having a 4 month old but I am glad I am doing it now and not later when I want to be at his games and activities.
Moms Returning to School - An Obama Project. Oct 6, 2009. http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/obama-makes-scholarship-deals-with-moms-going-back-to-school-all-women-get-10000-to-help-out-1287169.html
Obama Makes Scholarship Deals with Moms Going Back to School - All Women Get $10,000 to Help Out. Sept. 30, 2009. http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/moms-returning-to-school-an-obama-project-1307264.html
Mom’s Voices
I recently found two sources pertaining to moms going back to school. One is a blog posting by Jennifer Brown and the other is an online article form Parenting Magazine by Marisa Maeyama.
Jennifer Brown of Time for School Mom gives tips for managing school and children. One of her tips is to use your kids. Whether they are younger and wanting to act like mommy, by studying or older and can aide you in the process of getting back into the grove of being a student. You do not need to feel as though you are neglecting your family life, you can incorporate it.
A few other suggestions are finding a reliable babysitter and using other family members as well as finding a campus close to home, taking a day off of school and letting you professor know. I believe this is true, especially since there are some classes when you are simply work shopping or reviewing. These are the best classes to take advantage of.
In Marisa Maeyama article she tells the story of Niccole Footit who is a mother of a 2-year-old and 6-month old, which I seem to relate to more being the mother of a 4-month old. Niccole’s husband lost his job, they had the “family talk” of how can we support our family. They decided Niccole could go back to school to open her options up for more work. One of her main concerns was not being a part of her children everyday lives and being able to balance school work with house work.
I find both of these sites were useful in the information they provided. Jennifer’s tip on incorporating her children also allows her to spend time with them, as well as finding someone to care for them that you trust while you are busy. Marisa and Niccole discuss the topic of spending time with your children. Having a 4-month-old at home I want to spend every waking minute with him. Although it is hard I remind myself why I am doing this. Niccole explains to her oldest that it will allow her to give him the best she can and also show them school is important. These sources are straight from mothers who are going back to school. What better source than that?
Brown, Jennifer. Time for School Mom: 10 Tips for Managing School and Children. Oct. 13, 2009. http://www.back2college.com/timeforschool.htm.
Maeyama, Marisa and Footit, Niccole. Mom Triumph: Going Back to School. Oct. 13, 2009.
http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Work--Family/Mom-Triumph-Going-Back-to-School
Jennifer Brown of Time for School Mom gives tips for managing school and children. One of her tips is to use your kids. Whether they are younger and wanting to act like mommy, by studying or older and can aide you in the process of getting back into the grove of being a student. You do not need to feel as though you are neglecting your family life, you can incorporate it.
A few other suggestions are finding a reliable babysitter and using other family members as well as finding a campus close to home, taking a day off of school and letting you professor know. I believe this is true, especially since there are some classes when you are simply work shopping or reviewing. These are the best classes to take advantage of.
In Marisa Maeyama article she tells the story of Niccole Footit who is a mother of a 2-year-old and 6-month old, which I seem to relate to more being the mother of a 4-month old. Niccole’s husband lost his job, they had the “family talk” of how can we support our family. They decided Niccole could go back to school to open her options up for more work. One of her main concerns was not being a part of her children everyday lives and being able to balance school work with house work.
I find both of these sites were useful in the information they provided. Jennifer’s tip on incorporating her children also allows her to spend time with them, as well as finding someone to care for them that you trust while you are busy. Marisa and Niccole discuss the topic of spending time with your children. Having a 4-month-old at home I want to spend every waking minute with him. Although it is hard I remind myself why I am doing this. Niccole explains to her oldest that it will allow her to give him the best she can and also show them school is important. These sources are straight from mothers who are going back to school. What better source than that?
Brown, Jennifer. Time for School Mom: 10 Tips for Managing School and Children. Oct. 13, 2009. http://www.back2college.com/timeforschool.htm.
Maeyama, Marisa and Footit, Niccole. Mom Triumph: Going Back to School. Oct. 13, 2009.
http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Work--Family/Mom-Triumph-Going-Back-to-School
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Welcome!
This is the beginning, not only for this blog, but for me blogging as well. My name is Kelci Allen, I am a 22 year old student at Rowan University. I live in Galloway, New Jersey with my husband and 4-month old son, he is the main reason I am writing this blog. This is my first semester back after having him and I thought it would be a great idea to bring school life and mom life into one. I know there are many working moms out there and moms going to school as well, since there are plenty of sites on working moms I wanted to do something with moms and school. Trying to balance a home life and work is hard enough, so the thought f balancing home life and school can be just as hard. This blog is for the moms everyone. After having a child the last thing on your mind is going back to school, especially since there is so much to do with the little one, but it can be done. It can be stressful and tiring but I am here to express that along the way.
I honestly thought I would finish school before having children but then the unexpected happened and I had my son. He is the light of my life. I have been lucky enough to have a son who actually allows his mom to sleep through the night and be content with lying next to me playing while I do work, so it is a great help. I know somewhere out there, there is a mother going through the same thing with a child who may not be so willing to help her out. I feel as if this blog is going to allow not only mothers with newborns going back to school but mothers with toddlers as well, to lean on each other for help and support and positive feedback. Getting yourself an education to allow your children to have the best lives they can is important and I know it seems hard but we will get through it.
I have listed a few blogs below that intertwine schooling and parenthood, just taking a look at these sites even though they are not exactly directed towards mothers in school may give everyone, including myself, a better insight into all that is going on around us.
(Douglas, Ann. (2009). The Mother of All Parenting Blogs. Parentcentral.ca)
(Friedman, Dawn. (2009). This woman’s work. Blog Oh! Blog)
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