Stuck in a Rut?? - Machesney Park,IL

Well, I am 29, went back to school with a 3 year old, a one year old and pregnant with my third. It can be done! I am still in school, starting my second semester of Nursing school with a now 5 year old, 3 year old and almost 2 year old. It's hard, I won't lie! Time with my husband when I am in school is pretty much out the door. He is very understanding and allows me to shut myself in my room pretty much all day sometimes to study. There is no time to work. But, because we are down to one income, I do get a good amount of financial aid. I received my associates, but no bachelors, so I qualified for a Federal Pell Grant as well (money you don't have to pay back!) Then I have interest free loans and non-interest free loans. All in all, it has kept us afloat. Your classes should still count. My sister is the same age as you, and went back to school with me and all of her classes counted, as long as they match up to their classes at the school. If you started with a couple of classes, you could probably still work. Colleges nowadays offer so many online classes, it's ridiculous. I don't do as well with those, so I chose to do my pre-reqs for Nursing at the school, but many of my fellow students did it all from home. I know with Nursing, there is an "earn as you learn program" which the hospitals pay for your school as long as you work for them. Some places will even pay off your loans after you are done. There may be programs like this in the area you choose. Your first step should be talking to a financial aid counselor and a guidance counselor.

I have to say, I feel so much better about myself! To me, something was missing, I always regretted not getting my degree, and now I am so proud of myself.

Good luck!

Regarding school you can take courses on line and you can apply for loans and grants to finish school. It's better to go back now if you wait you might just not go back. Maybe your husband can go to school or a trade school and get into a different field. You never know until you try.

Moving doesn't sound feasible. "Jobs are scarce there too" doesn't sound like a good start for him. And it takes time to build up clientelle for a new daycare. SO, you wouldn't be able to carry him while he looks. But going to school could propel you guys into a better situation.

Step 1 - Go to your closest community college. Take your transcripts with you. Talk to a counselor about online classes to complete your associates and financial aid. Once you've had that meeting, you will be in a much better position to make decisions. Ask about adult service programs. At my jr college, adults with kids could check textbooks out of the library.
You will both have to cut back on volunterring and coaching for a while. You will have to write papers and study at night after kids go to sleep. He will need to pick up some slack with the kids and house while you do this. Once you complete your associates, you can transfer to a state university and contiue taking online classes.

I don't have a "my-story" to share, but I have some thoughts on the topic.

My Father would say: "knowledge is the key to change". You know you want more. Now, think about how to start.

~continuation classes? (usually offered through high school or community colleges, and quite affordable). Almost any subject will do - you want to get back into a "school and class" frame of mind.
~ online classes? They range widely in price and you can see if online works for you. It is quite different from classroom learning, so you need to make sure that it works for you.
~tag team education? One semester, you take classes & the next semester, your husband does. In this way, you both widen your worlds and prospects for more meaningful employment. You can strengthen and support each other. Maybe it works better on a year plan. . .

Don't feel overwhelmed. It can be done. Just take it in manageable chunks. Best of luck to you and your husband.

I live about 30 miles south of Green Bay. Jobs in Wisconsin are hard to find and the cost of living just keeps going up up up. My son and I were talking about it last night. His senior supervisor at work just accepted a part-time job at a local hardware store so he can make ends meet. However this man works is normal 8-5 job, then has to go home to be a husband and father, and find time to answer work emails for a few hours, on his own time.
Since you are thinking of moving I would check out jobs in N Dakota. Recently, there was a news story on yahoo that N Dakota has a 3.2 % unemployment rate and has about 15,000 jobs they can't fill. The cost of living is a lot lower than Illnois and they now have a lot of big city ammenties.
As far as going back to school, yes your credits are still good.

Have you thought about online college? My husband has taken online college classes for 3 years. He will have his bachelor degree this December.

The online classes still have deadlines, such as assignments due on Sunday, but you can log into class to work on things whenever is good for you. You can take one, two, or three classes at a time, so it is convenient for you.

There are grants and scholarships for online college too. My husband got enough grants and scholarships that his student loans are very low.

There are a lot of different degrees available online so you could probably find something that would be a good fit for you. And your husband could take online courses to get a degree or even technical certification that might help him find a better job.

Oh, and some employers will pay back your student loans in exchange for you agreeing to work for them for a period of time, usually a few years. So you and/or your husband could go to school and end up paying nothing.

Online classes can be great. You have to have the discipline to get the work done by the deadline and your computer ha to work good all the time. You can take classes from nearly any college in the country, not just your local one. You can study when the kids are in school at friends, or sleeping. I have a feeling if hubby took some, possibly the same classes, you could really have some nice together time studying and helping eachother. You probably could start up daycare anywhere if you take great references with you. If you stay where you are maybe change the ages of kids and take just after school age and help them with homework. Parents pay extra for that! And youd have your mornings free.

Ramble away.. thats what we are here for right?? Well, I have been faced with this dilemma as well.. and basically I had to decide what was best for me and my family. I am a mom of 4.. who are active in sports, music etc.. I am also one of those involved moms who volunteers for everything that my kids are involved in and my husband coaches as well. I realized for better job security i had to return to work.. i burnt the candle at both ends and in the middle.. but i had help.. do you have anyone who can help with pick ups and drop offs? Other parents? Have you thought abuot online schools?
I know its hard.. i had to wake up at 4am to get my daughter to practice (she rowed), then I went into work and was usually in my classroom by 530 (i am a science teacher).. i graded papers, responded to emails and what not, and by 8 am.. kids were arriving.. left work after 3, picked up my other sons and had to drive them to baseball, soccer or football practice, and take my daughter to piano.. havent even mentioned homework time for the kdis o rmyself LOL.. I hated thursdays.. that was the night i went to class.. it was the longest day ever.. i did a lot of driving on those days.. life became easier when my mother in law took my daughter picked my daughter up from school, took her to piano and then let her stay the night so that i could go straigh home after class.. BUT..basically every moment counted.. while i waiited for them at practice i read for school, during lunch at work, i wrote my papers etc.. then there were days i just had to take a day off to get things finished.. but long story short.. I did it!!! and so can you.. i have my masters degree in science educaiton, and crazy to believe i am going back for a second masters in curriculum studies and administration (this time online!!).. hopefully my story makes you feel better.. school was a welcomed relief for me!! it was ME time.. and being around like minded individuals was awesome.

You have received several suggestions about going to college on line. I have 4 kids/sil/dil that either received their degree on line or are just about to recieve their degree on line.

IMO, Now is the wrong time to move. Obama has just added tremendously to the deficit and employers are afraid to hire because they don't know how much taxes are going to be raised if the party in power gets their way.

Get educated so you can have a better job. Look for a job and find one before you move.

I feel for you. I had a job I hated for 23 years before I was downsized. If my wife and I hadn't been savers and had money set aside for retirement, we'd have been simply out of luck and lost everything.

Good luck to you and yours.

I know you want change so escape sounds like the route. Why N wisconsin? Did you vacation there a few times and like it? Did you hear it is beautiful up there? You have kids are they at a good spot in life to uproot them and move? If you are an organized and discipline person go for online classes. If your not then you or hubby need to decided if both can afford to or who goes to college first. Try to go with the person who knows what career path they want to pursue. Make sure it is not a decision to want to leave because you haven't taken a break and done a real vacation or took time for yourselves or need to settle things with family or friends. Also look into cities and towns that have amenities you want along with a better employment outlook. Good luck to your happy heart in the future.

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I know you want change so escape sounds like the route. Why N wisconsin? Did you vacation there a few times and like it? Did you hear it is beautiful up there? You have kids are they at a good spot in life to uproot them and move? If you are an organized and discipline person go for online classes. If your not then you or hubby need to decided if both can afford to or who goes to college first. Try to go with the person who knows what career path they want to pursue. Make sure it is not a decision to want to leave because you haven't taken a break and done a real vacation or took time for yourselves or need to settle things with family or friends. Also look into cities and towns that have amenities you want along with a better employment outlook. Good luck to your happy heart in the future.

I work at a community college as an advisor and I encourage you to contact your local cc. I am guessing you live closest to Rock Valley College. Most if not all of your credits should be valid and honored at the school as long as they have similar curricula. Most community colleges also offer evening, weekend, and online courses and the advisors can work with you to let you know how close you are to an associates degree. You didn't state where you earned your college credit already but you may want to look at what options that school offers now (many have expanded their online services). It does take a lot of discipline to do online courses but I have found that returning students are generally highly motivated and are a good match for that format. If you look into other onlline education options just be careful about the school's accreditation. If you have any questions just message me.