In the winter of my junior year at university, I welcomed my daughter into the world. I took a break from my studies that semester and returned to classes the following August when she was six months old. I anticipated that balancing school, a part-time job, my craft business, and motherhood would be challenging, but I underestimated just how demanding it would be.
Between writing research papers and feeding my baby pureed peas, I faced countless sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, and the stress of academic deadlines. I composed essays while listening to cartoons and juggling a fussy infant on my lap. The guilt of leaving my child to attend class or finish assignments while she cried out for me was ever-present. Yet, amid the chaos, I cherished the precious moments spent with her during those delightful early stages of life.
As I approach graduation, I’ve taken time to reflect on my experience of completing college as a mother of a toddler. I’ve learned that humor can be a powerful coping mechanism during stressful times. Here are a few insights I gained:
- College students and toddlers have a lot in common. They both tend to whine about being hungry, bored, or in need of a nap.
- It is indeed feasible to write a paper on your laptop while breastfeeding. It requires patience, balancing skills, and the ability to ignore the sounds of sucking. Just be cautious when the baby disconnects unexpectedly—breast milk and laptops don’t mix!
- Getting up for an 8 a.m. class feels much easier when you’re trying to escape a tantruming toddler. Shout out to all daycare staff, grandparents, and caregivers!
- Once classmates discover you have a child, you become the go-to expert on parenting topics. Expect to share your opinions on whether boys should play with dolls or the educational value of television.
- Your purse will transform into a snack and pain relief haven, often referred to as “Mom” by friends in need.
- You may find your pens replaced with pacifiers, as your toddler uses them for art projects in your math book—if the math book is still in your bag.
- Surviving sleepless nights with an infant prepares you for late-night writing sessions while your toddler snoozes on your lap. When they’re awake, you might resort to the archaic methods of pencil and paper—expect the pencil to vanish, too.
- Exhausting your patience on your toddler’s mess-making means you’ll have little tolerance for college students’ excuses, such as “I didn’t finish my paper because I worked at Starbucks.”
- You’ll discover inventive locations to read and do assignments, like sitting on the toilet lid while watching your child create a soap bubble masterpiece.
- Trading responsibilities with your partner who works long hours sounds like a vacation. Their job doesn’t assign homework or demand a bath.
- Mastering time management is crucial. Use a planner to jot down every assignment, due date, appointment, and even social engagements. You can’t remember everything on your own.
- Many professors are highly accommodating of non-traditional students. Instead of requesting extensions, ask for assignments early and communicate any scheduling constraints. Most are eager to help you succeed. That means your excuse of “my kid deleted my whole paper while I chased a runaway pacifier” is pretty valid, along with “my kid had an explosive diaper incident right before my paper was due.”
- No matter how hectic my days get or how little sleep I manage to get, I wouldn’t change my situation for anything. It’s all worth it for my daughter.
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In summary, my journey through college with a toddler taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of humor. Each sleepless night and chaotic day was worth it for the joy of motherhood.