Being a parent makes things more complicated if you’re also a student. I’m so fortunate to have a supportive wife and son. As a parent/student (and occasional teacher) I thought I’d let you know that I know. While there are many things that make being a student complicated (loans, jobs, grades, assignments, bad teachers, extracurricular stuff, pledging, etc.), being a parent has been, for me, the most difficult by far. I don’t want to imply that I wish I wasn’t a parent (because I love being a Dad), but I do want to empathize with other parent/students out there who likely live at least three different levels of responsibility simultaneously: Student, Parent, and Employee. It’s not easy, I know, but hopefully you’re able to find some positives in the difficulty. I know that I certainly have over the years. It’s not so much a silver lining as it is a powerful sunshine. Being a parent can actually be a great (if stressful) thing if you’re also a student (and no, I’m not urging students to become parents either).
So, if you’re a parent and a student, what might you have to be thankful for (aside from the obvious)? One thing that I’ve noticed is that I’m far more motivated to be productive because I have other responsibilities each and every day. Before I was a parent I could extend my work to the last-minute, start way later than I should have, not plan ahead as much, but with a child I don’t have that luxury. It takes more time to get into and out of a vehicle. As such, I’ve gotten much better at getting things done efficiently and starting earlier. Also, one of the other things I’ve noticed is that I have a different (or expanded) perspective on many of the things I study. I was able to quote one of the children’s books I read day in and day out to my son in a qualifying exam for my doctorate. If I never had a son I would have never read that book and found a very simple way of introducing and explaining a very complex topic. These are just two ways, I realize, but having children is motivational. What benefits have you found?