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How do you juggle parenting, home making, and college?

What advice can you give to a stay at home mother of 2 returning to school full time? I recently quit my long term job to take care of my kids until they reach elementary school age . I want to finish my degree so I will be eligible for higher paying positions once I am ready to return. How do you juggle homemaking, parenting, and college?

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Brooke’s Answer

I’d start by identifying your non-negotiables. Map out your full week—everything you need to be there for with your kids, from drop-offs to activities to being home at certain times. That gives you a clear picture of what your schedule actually allows, and any open time blocks are where school can fit in.

Seeing it laid out will also help you decide what type of program makes sense. For many parents, online school offers the flexibility needed to balance everything else.

Try not to overcommit at the start. Begin with one or two classes and see how it feels. Each class takes more time than you think, and it’s easy to burn out if you take on too much too quickly.

I went through something similar while getting my master’s while working multiple jobs and coaching. My schedule was packed, so I broke everything into hourly blocks and carved out time wherever I could. It wasn’t easy, but having a plan made it manageable.

At the end of the day, family comes first. Build your schedule around that, be realistic about what you can handle, and use small pockets of time to stay ahead when you can.

Brooke recommends the following next steps:

Start by writing out your typical full week schedule.
Decide what type of program works best with that schedule.
Enroll in one or two classes to start to get a feel for the workload.
Block study blocks in your schedule so it’s part of your routine.
Adjust after first semester based on if you can handle more.
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mohamed’s Answer

Juggling parenting, homemaking, and full-time college is challenging but absolutely doable with structure and realistic expectations. The key is to prioritize your time tightly—plan your week in advance, block study hours, and build a routine that aligns with your children’s schedule, early mornings, nap times, or evenings. Accept that you won’t be perfect in every area every day, and focus on consistency instead of perfection. Use any support you have—partner, family, or childcare, even occasionally, to create dedicated study time. Stay organized with a simple system (planner or app), and don’t hesitate to communicate with professors if needed. Most importantly, remind yourself why you’re doing this: finishing your degree now is an investment in your future and your family’s stability, and that motivation will help you stay disciplined when things feel overwhelming.
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