How to Combine Parenting and Education? Top 5 Tips from Well-Known Mothers

Guest Post

Becoming a parent is a great joy, though with its own challenges. One of the most important ones is to decide whether to continue education or to ditch it altogether and become a full-time mum. However, parenting and learning can be combined.

Ask Leila Hoteit, managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group, Hanna Rosin, journalist, and author as well as Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. These mothers managed to combine parenting with studying and working — and here is how they got it done.

Tip 1: Do Not Be Afraid to Invest in Your Development

Education is a valuable asset that can significantly help in any career advancement. However, women who recently became mothers and continue their studying often come across one pertaining issue. It can take many forms, but the general idea is that focusing not only on parenting makes these women worse mothers.

Such words, especially if friends or relatives tell them, can hurt. But Leila Hoteit, who gave one of the most inspiring TED Talks for women, has two pieces of advice. First: do not let such words diminish the ambitions and dreams you have. Second: consider other people’s negativity not as an impediment but fuel to the aspirations and future successes.

Education and motherhood can be combined and, in the long run, the whole family can benefit from it. So it is crucial to stay on the track and not to allow others to let you down.

Tip 2: Use Help

Yes, it is this simple. Education and parenting is a challenging combination, especially when the mother has to juggle other responsibilities, such as housework.

Sheryl Sandberg suggests: make sure that your partner is really a partner.

If the woman chooses to become a college student or pursue an education in any other way, it is vital to make sure that her partner is fully engaged and ready to help.

But what about single mothers? Does it mean that they have no chance of continuing the study? Absolutely not.

The other option is to find a trustworthy person who can take over some domestic responsibilities. For example, Leila Hoteit uses affordable domestic help. It saves lots of time and alleviates stress, which inevitably comes with combining parenthood and studying.

Still, sometimes young parents are on a budget and can not afford any domestic assistance. If so, take another approach and use help with studies!

There are lots of educational resources that can help young mothers study effectively and save time — for example, EssayPro, a professional writing service, which can assist with college papers. There is always a way; the most important part is finding the one that will suit you best.

Tip 3: Focus on Moments, Not Minutes

Combining parenting and education has many challenges. One of the toughest is the fact that mothers who also study at college spend less time with their children.

No doubts, it can be challenging both for a mother and a baby. But Leila Hoteit has a useful tip: do not focus on the exact amount of time you spend with your kids. Instead, be more concerned about the quality and cherish the moments you share.

Here is how Leila has it done. Every day she has an hour and a half which she spends with her kids: asking about their day, reading bedtime stories and simply being together.

Tip 4: Be Confident

In her famous TED Talk, Sheryl Sandberg mentioned that women tend to underestimate their abilities. Also, females often attribute their successes to someone else due to omnipresent impostor syndrome. It is still going strong.

No wonder why lots of women decide to focus solely on parenthood after becoming mothers.

Hanna Rosin, a writer, and a mother of three, have some exciting news backed up by data. Women absolutely should pursue education and become a part of the modern economy as they fit there perfectly.

Previously, the economy was focused on manufacturing. But the modern one is all about service, information, and creativity. It requires a whole new set of skills and women, Hanna is sure, are better at acquiring them.

If so, women have to stop underestimating themselves and pursue education with confidence. It benefits both them and their families. It benefits the world as a whole.

Tip 5: Find the Unique Approach

Every person is different, with one’s own set of goals, dreams, and educational plans. If so, these tips are not an established road map. It is a base that can be used to build a unique path combining education and parenthood.

Summing Up

Use all sorts of help you might need, starting with domestic help and ending with educational resources. Do not let others intimidate you or diminish your goals and ambitions.

Have some quality time with the children and do not be afraid to pursue education. First of all, it can be combined with parenthood. And, secondly, it can benefit a mother greatly — trust Leila Hoteit, Sheryl Sandberg, and Hanna Rosin.