I am a mother, student and employee in that order. My husband is a father, student and employee in that order as well. Being a mom to a newborn baby while being a full time student and part time employee, is really a full time job. In October of 2013 I was blessed with a healthy baby boy full of spunk and a hungry stomach. I was 39 weeks pregnant and in the middle of my first semester in the Social Work program. October 23, 2013 was just a typical 39 week doctors check up. That is until the doctor told me it was time for me to have my baby. At first I was excited until I realized I still had STATS homework to finish and my husband had a test that afternoon. We convinced the doctor to let us head up to campus and finish our homework and exams and then we would come back in later. Being a mother, student and employee requires flexibility.
Flexibility is key to staying sane in this ever changing life. I quickly learned that while on our drive back to campus. It is vital that we are capable of being flexible and understanding that flexibility helps us mentally and physically. We quickly learned to become flexible as our baby was bounced from friend to friend for day care outside of our classrooms. Since we didn’t have family close by or know of any decent day cares in the Cache Valley I was required to be flexible with the cultural role of a mother. Most mothers in this area stay home with their child to help rear and raise them, but I was not that mother. I was required to be a mother, student and employee which meant that my baby was going to be tended by his father and our close friends.
Paxton was born on October 24,2013, at 4:16 a.m. on a Thursday. I always knew that I wanted to be a mom and that I wanted to also be able to provide for my family as well as gain a solid education. Once Paxton was born that desire increased ten fold. Although it would have been a lot easier for me to hang up my backpack and snuggle my baby all day, I knew he deserved more than that and so did I. I quickly returned to school the Tuesday after he was born and pushed through the day. Punctuality is key in being a good mother, student and employee. I knew that if I was to take more days off than necessary of school it would be harder and harder for me to return. Having a new baby also made me realize that I needed to get up earlier in the day and that things would take longer to get accomplished. But being punctual is important to me, in fact it is one of my defining qualities. I have a reputation for being on time and precise and I did not want to lose that since it is something I am proud of. Professors don’t allow homework extensions since I am a mother nor do they allow tardiness because I have a sick baby. My employer didn’t allow me to show up late to work or leave work early because of my baby. I was still required to be punctual but now it was more difficult. I attribute my 4.0 that semester to punctuality and organization.
Diapers, pacifiers, bottles and homework. Did I mention homework? I quickly became grateful for my prior organizational skills and clean home which made the transition of baby things easier to handle. I am a list maker. My planner became one of my best friends. I learned that if I highlighted when different things were due it made my life a lot easier. I had to be organized to be a successful mother, student and employee. Organization is the reason that I am able to be flexible and punctual. Because I have my “ducks in a row” I know when it is okay to be flexible and have a change of plans. Because I am organized I am able to be on time to things and hand in assignments on time. Being organized while working during school helped finances to go smoothly and allowed me to work more shifts. Organization helped me to balance just the right amount of time for work and school work to still manage time with my baby and husband.
Being a mother, student and employee is difficult. Being a mother and attending school and working is difficult. However, being a mom makes me who I am and gives me motivation to achieve greatness. Being a full time student is difficult. There are times where I second guessed myself and my motives for continuing school. However, I know that my baby and I deserve to gain an education. Working while going to school and being a mother is difficult. However, I know the importance of being smart financially and staying out of debt. Understanding how to be flexible, punctual and organized make being a mother, student and employee a breeze.
