5 Tips to Survive College as a Mom

Surviving College as a Mom
Motherhood and college, individually, are life challenges that are both exhausting and rewarding. However, combine the two and you have an even more delicate dance to keep life in balance. College moms might be young, new mothers (like myself) or might be mothers of older children or even grandmothers. Student moms also vary from those who have never attended college to those who are returning for a new career path or to further their current career.

Regardless, being a student mom comes with it's own set of challenges. Below, I've shared some tips for making it through and thriving as a mother and student.

5 Tips for College Moms

1. Let It Go

No. I don't mean go watch Frozen with your 6 year-old for the millionth time. Literally, you have to let stuff go. You're trying to balance being a good student and a good parent (and maybe even a good employee and/or significant other, too). In order to save your sanity, you're going to have to cut yourself some slack.

Maybe that means you're vacuuming once a week, rather than three or four times. Maybe your kids are eating pizza rolls tonight. Maybe the dishes won't get done for a few days. Maybe you're 15 minutes late to class because there was a diaper blowout 5 minutes before you had to load the kids in the car.

It's okay. Let it go. Things will be okay.

Related Post: What is a surrogate mother?

2. Prioritize

If you're not quite sure how to accomplishment the first point, then this should help. Learn to prioritize what has to be done. I always like to think of priorities like this:
  • Have to do
  • Should do
  • Could/want to/might do

Work through the things you have to do and then move on to the things you should do. Try to do at least something that you want to do, so that you don't feel like your whole day is all work and no play. That can get exhausting.

Related Post: 5 Tips to Improve Your Love Life After Kids

Succeed as a mom and student.

3. Lists

Lists, lists, lists. Even if I never look at a list again, writing things down gives me clarity, helps me organize my thoughts, and helps remember what needs to be remembered. I used excel to create a spreadsheet of all my assignments for the semester. I used it digitally, but it could have easily been printed and used for reference, just the same. If you're having trouble getting organized, lists can really help.

4. Know your limits.

I am really, really bad at this one. It's really important to have realistic expectations for yourself. Don't take more classes than you can handle. This last semester I started a new job that had a more traditional work schedule. I also took on full time college classes. I'm going to fail one of those classes after getting so behind catching up is an insurmountable task. My work in the others has suffered.

For someone who was devastated when she received her first and only C in college, this is really hard for me. However, it's shown me that, more than ever, it's important to find the life balance that works for you.

Otherwise you'll end up giving less than your all to your job, your school, and/or your family. Take it from someone who knows. Set yourself up for success in all areas of your life!

5 Tips for College Moms

5. Self care.

Take care of yourself. Take a day off. Lounge around in your PJs with the kids eating ice cream and watching Disney movies. Go on a date with your spouse or have a night out with your friends. Remember that you're still human and you still deserve some fun.

We're all trying to make the most out of our lives. To improve ourselves for our children. We want them to look up to us. We want them to be proud of us. We want to give them the world. Being a college student and a mom is tough. We can do it though!

What advice would you offer to moms who are attending college?

Subscribe via E-mail



Follow Me

9 Affordable Experience Focused Kid Gifts

Give the Gift of Experiences
Once upon a time I posted some alternative hobbies for kids that aren't sports or video games. I also shared tips to get kids to actually like reading. The season of giving is upon us, so today I want to tell you about the importance of presence not presents.

This is something many of us, myself included, struggle with.

It's easy to try and measure love with stuff, to try and quantify it. However, we all know that love is a feeling. It can't be measured. It can be felt. You might even argue it can be seen.

However, we're all still tempted to be unintentionally materialistic. We love our children and our families love them. Grandparents, especially, are inclined to shower our children with gifts. Unfortunately, very few of these gifts offer experiences. Most of them are just stuff.

Stuff that will end up at the bottom of a toy box.

Something with a million parts that will never be put together again.

Sometimes people struggle with gifting experiences


Related Post: 12 Things I Want My Boys to Know When They Grow Up

9 Experience Based Gifts

9 Experience Focused Gift Ideas for Kids


  • Laser Tag
  • Usually appropriate for kids starting around age 6. Fun for adults and children, so great to do as a family!
  • Zoo One Time Pass
  • Buy day passes for the zoo. It's even better if the the gift giver is planning on going as well (when able).
Give Aquarium Passes
  • Aquarium One Time Pass
  • If your giftees are lucky enough to have an aquarium nearby, why not gift them a day pass?
  • Museum or Conservatory One Time Pass
  • New museum? Favorite museum? Single passes and/or gift certificates are affordable options!
  • Movie Theater Gift Certificate
  • Buying movie passes or gift certificates/gift cards to the local theater can be a special treat.
Give the Gift of Bowling<

  • Bowling Gift Certificate
  • Classic fun to be had just about anywhere. A bowling gift certificate is a great gift to be used with friends or family.
  • Arcade Tokens or Gift Certificate
  • Local arcades (sometimes combined with mini golf, bowl, theme parks or other mentioned gift ideas) are a great place to buy and experiential gift. Buy tokens for the give recipient to use later or some other pass.
  • Mini Golf Pass
  • Mini golf is another classic and you can find a place almost anywhere. It makes great gifts to be used a family or with friends.
  • Horseback Riding Gift Certificate
  • If everyone is comfortable, able, and old enough, horseback riding can be a unique gift experience to give a family or individual.
Give the Gift of Go Karting
  • Go Kart Pass
  • These are fun for adults and kids! Younger kids may need to ride with an adult or older sibling, so this can be a fun family gift.
  • Theme or Fun Park One time Pass
  • If there's a nearby theme park, fun park, or similar area for a good time, you can usually buy passes, tickets, tokens, or gift certificates to give as gifts.

Have you ever received a gift like this? How did you like it? Do you think experiential gifts are better, the same, or don't like them?


Subscribe via E-mail



Follow Me