Studying Mothers

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Are there many studying mothers out there? I am thinking of going back to complete my PhD (Education) but I am concerned about how to manage it. Please let me know your experiences studying with a young family. Not sure if I should hold off for a couple of years? Thanks!
 
Bumps

I was a studying mother. I was completing my Masters part-time while working full-time with a toddler. Mine sleeps by 8 on most nights. So studying took place between 8:30 - 11:00 almost every night. On weekends, it's much easier.

Very doable. Having been thinking about my PHD (Education) too but can't find a suitable course in HK apart from HKU. All the unis I'm interested in from Oz will not allow me to pursue it distance ed.

Good Luck! It's challenging but very rewarding. Amazingly, doing my Masters while working full time and being a mum gave me a great push for attaining great academic results!

QM
 
Thanks so much for replying.... I did my Masters of Ed (MLMEd) too! - but was single at the time.... so was wondering if it would be more challenging now i have a family. Good to hear that studying and working is doable - I guess it is just all about getting a balance if I really want to accomplish it (which I do!). I actually liked Uni of Newcastle, however, distance ed is not allowed. So I am looking for alternatives and HKU is the only alternative at the moment! :) Cheers!
 
it's possible...i was carrying my first when I started my EdD (part time) and working full time, and now am working on completing my EdD after just giving birth to my 2nd baby. (I started in 2007)...the program I did was a distance learning program from UWA so that allowed me more time and flexibility I believe - there are only classes to take in the 1st year of the doctorate program, and then if you pass all the necessary requirements to continue onto a doctorate, it is all based on self study...( I was working full time throughout until last year)...I find that it does motivate me to work more efficiently since I want to spend more time with my daughters (still trying to find a way to balance everything since having 2 girls is still new to me - my 2nd one is 6 days old....but I find myself working when they nap or when I send my older one to my sisters for a play group...the younger one feeds every 2 hours, so when she's sleeping, I've managed to get bits and pieces of work done too...I'm hoping that she will have longer naps so that I can work faster - I really want to finish my EdD this year! good luck!
 
It will not be easy (if you want to finish everything within the full time schedule of 3 years plus some time for writing up)especially with the intensity of the solo research work, it can be very isolating. Seen many people break up with their partners, have their studies drag on forever or drop out half way due to the stress of struggling to balance everything. But it is not impossible, there are some supermamas out there.
 
It may be feasible for you to have a chat with some PhD students in your chosen instituition. The nature of a Masters programme is very different from a PhD programme whereby you are working as a solo researcher, therefore the the 'intellectual' bit will not be the most difficult, it is the emotional and intellectual isolation that will be isolating since you will be the expert within the 'niche' area.
 
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