Beyond Maiden, Mother, and Crone

 

Mom and School and work, and soccer, and deadlines, and bills, and fights and hugs and ...

We’ve got to hand it to mom for pulling the nine-to-fiver at work,driving kids to and from school, showing up at PTA meetings, shopping, cleaning house and produce three meals all in a day’s duties. It is no wonder how she finds time for even herself, since many women tend to place their own ambitions on the backburner throughout motherhood. But what if after years in the same routine, mom decides she wants more from her career, something geared toward her own interest. Quite possibly even go back to school. When one is busy juggling work and family, it’s simple to jump to the conclusion that continuing an education is impractical. Not so.
        Yes, maintaining an academic career is as equally demanding as any other profession. In scheduling class hours, study time, and extra curricular agendas, attending school requires sound set of motivation. However, for the working mother, adapting her life around these additional responsibilities can become a complicating, often doubtful endeavor.


       

 

The reality is mothers continuing their education are older, live off-campus, and attend work full-time, school part-time. Unlike their younger peers, these on-the-go moms bring to campus more baggage, have more direction and often special needs. Provisions of child care, financial aid and flexible study services are among a few of their demands.
        Finding the appropriate balance with an academic career challenges women who have been given the bulk of family work in childrearing, domestic chores, and even financial debts. Yet despite these barriers, continuing an education is a possible and highly rewarding opportunity which every women ought to consider.
        For a typical aged college students as myself, I had never considered going back to school after having established a career. It was not until my own mother, after having spent 28 years with the same job, decided to advance her education to attain a more personally rewarding career. As my mother has shown, often the desire for women to reeducate themselves comes at a later time of their lives, when their children are grown and are given more time for personal change.

Under a variety of circumstances, the choice in re-education is by far a golden opportunity for women of any age or background. What a better way to enhance self esteem, obtain more career opportunities, increase salary, and gain a sense of  pride in the accomplishments. Above all, she will be a living role model to her children’s futures, especially to her daughters.
      All it takes is a little research into different scholastic programs, many of which can be tailored to best fit one’s needs. Screen online through search engines or check out local colleges and universities. Even visit nearby career centers to narrow down on degree programs and financial aid availability. Mom can personalize her educational plan through an array of subjects from freshman to doctorate level. Only she can set the limit to her choice in a college education.
        So, let us encourage our talented, creative, and ambitious mothers to take the time to invest in their own futures. For in not taking a chance, she'll never know what can be possible.

   

~ Written by: Liz Garcia