It takes a village
Family support is a decisive factor for
almost all student parents. Without it,
most admit they would not have even
entertained the idea of going back to
school. Support can come in many
forms, but in most cases it boils down
to time. When partners
manage to come
home early or do
more hands-
on family
activities,
children are less likely to notice the
studying parent’s absence – even if it is
just to another room.
“My family is very supportive,”
says Tammie Hook, a mother of two
and Management student at online
Athabasca University. “My husband
will take time off from work so that I
can write my exams and will also take
the girls out on the weekends if I have
a deadline.”
Encouraging someone to pursue
a dream or ambition is another way
of supporting them. Many women
find the idea of going back to school
daunting, especially if they have
been completely ensconced in family
life. For some, a simple nudge to get
started is the best form of support.
“My husband helped me complete my
application and told me what a good
idea he thought it was,” says Christine
O’Donnell, who is expecting her
second child while getting a master’s
degree in Education Administration
and Management at the University of
Hong Kong.
As my school semester got into
full swing and “deadline” became my
word
du jour
, I sometimes doubted the
sanity of what I was doing (our first
child was only 16 months old when
my classes began). In those moments,
I kept reminding myself I was neither
the first nor the last student with
family obligations. In fact, I am part
of a growing trend.
Globally, the exact number of
student parents is unknown because
institutions are not required to collect
February 2014
51
