As a part-time college student and a mom of two young kids, my weekends are always jam-packed. I barely have a moment to relax between shuffling to classes, studying, caring for my children, and trying to spend quality time with my family.
My weekends usually kick off early Friday afternoon when I have to go to class for the weekend. I help the kids with their homework, make dinner, do some light housework, and start studying. Fridays are especially hectic because I often have early Saturday morning classes at my university which is two hours away. This means I have to leave home Friday evening or leave home on Saturday early as 5am to be able to meet up with the 8am class.
I hate leaving my family for the weekend, but it's the only way I can fit in all required classes for my degree. My husband holds down the fort caring for our 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter or he takes them to their grandparents house. I'm constantly feeling guilty about being away from them so much. I try to help ease their sadness by scheduling video chat sessions with them on Friday and Saturday nights. Seeing their sweet faces helps lift my spirits too.
My Saturday mornings start around 5 am to get ready and commute to my 8 am class. I'll be in lectures, taking exams, or working on group projects for most of the day. If I have a break between classes, I'll grab a quick meal, study, or call home to check on how the kids are doing. My days are long and draining both mentally and physically.
I look forward to heading back home Sunday evening. My kids are always ecstatic to have me back. We have a big family dinner that I prepared after I am back from school and enjoy some playtime. Once the kids are in bed, my husband and I finally have a chance to reconnect after a long weekend apart.
Sundays evening are often filled with household responsibilities like laundry, groceries, meal prep and helping the kids finish their home work due Monday for school. I also carve out chunks of time to study and work on my own papers and assignments.
Before I know it, Sunday night rolls around and the exhaustion hits. I still have my packed bag sitting by the door to embark on yet another week of university classes. I spend time with the kids during their bedtime routine , saying prayers. After they drift off to sleep, I give my husband a long hug goodbye.
I eventually crawl into bed with textbooks and laptop in tow. I still have many chapters left to read and concepts I don't quite grasp for my next weekend test. My weekends are never restful, but I remind myself that this demanding schedule is temporary. I'm working hard now so I can better provide for my beloved family in the years to come. The light at the end of this tunnel is earning my degree.
So weekends for me as a busy student and mom are far from relaxing. They zoom by in a flurry of classes, family responsibilities, studying into the wee hours of the night and treasured moments with my kids and husband. I am reminded to appreciate even the small breaks for meals and commuting as precious bits of self-care to recharge my batteries. Staying laser focused on how my education will allow me to build a brighter future keeps me motivated through the toughest weekends. My family is depending on me to achieve this goal.
Image used on this post are mine
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Doing all that and you're still smiling 😀 You're an inspiration !
I have to keep my smile despite everything.
🤗