I am currently a full time college student (online courses) & a sahm to 3 (soon to be 5 as I am expecting twins in late feb/early march), my son also has severe cerebral palsy & requires constant care & many specialty & doctors appointments (on average 3-5 appointments per week, & often more)
I have been maintaining a 3.5 GPA until my last course, which I failed :( unfortunately it was a combination of my not being able to complete assignments on time (taking too many late grades) & a professor who graded especially hard (even without a late grade I was receiving c's or lower on papers, when I average a b+ in all courses up until that point). Needless to say that this is not how I want my grades to continue, however in my current class I am also struggling to complete assignments on time. This is mostly due to morning/all day sickness from being pregnant, headaches including migraines, and exhaustion from pregnancy. I have never been this sick during a pregnancy & have even been pregnant once before while taking courses & only took a 28 day leave from classes to have baby & recover.
I am considering taking some time off of school because of this. I do not want my grades & GPA to suffer but I am just so sick and exhausted that I dont know what else to do. Also with expecting twins & with some prior complications I am high risk for several reasons & there is no telling what might happen the remainder of this pregnancy including the possibility of having to travel to houston for treatments (hopefully not but I wouldnt know until shortly before)
If I were to take a leave of absence, the time period for that is up to 6 months, which only gives me until mid-april...I am unsure if I would be prepared to return then as having two newborns that are at most 6 or so weeks old, I would prefer to be off longer after they are born. However I just cant see continuing on like this currently. Obviously I will definitely be returning, I have only one year left to complete my bachelors but at this point I know a leave is necessary I am just debating on when to start it...If I start it now but need more time after my babies are born is it possible to take more time? Obviously I am going to speak with my counselor about this monday I am just looking for some feedback/experience with having to take time off from college...
I have NO idea how you are doing it! Kudos to you. I truly wish you peace.
Be a mom. You can finish your degree later on your own schedule. Plus, you don't have to go full-time when you do return. What's the rush?
I took a 25 year sabbatical and picked up where I left off. So what's the hurry? If this were your Masters degree, I would see the rush, but not with a bachelor's.
It depends on the school you go to, so it's good that you are speaking with your counselor about it. When I was in college, I took a year off from school while I was pregnant, then finished my last year when my daughter was a few months old. I also know a couple of moms who have taken just one class a semester until they finished their degrees; it took them a few years to finish but their schools worked with them to make sure it happened (hopefully your school can give you this option if you need it). Is it possible for you to take online courses to finish your degree? There should be a few different options for you in order to finish your degree, and hopefully your counselor at the school can be more specific. Good luck!
I'd TRY for the hardship but be prepared, they could possibly say "well you already had kids, one with special needs and you got pregnant again?" Some schools are just in it for the money and don't CARE about what their students are going thru. They could consider a "pre-exsisting condition."
Good luck with all of this. I hope the school doen't give you a hard time.
Oh my gosh.. There is just really no way to give the courses you are taking the attention that is needed.
5 children? A child with special needs?
Your college education is very important, but your children are actually more important right now. They are your priority. A mom that is stressed and exhausted is a mom on the verge of getting sick or breaking down.
Take the stress and energy of college and use it for your health and children.
You are paying for your courses so it is not like they are free so if you cannot spend proper time on them you are not wasting your money.
You are not quitting. You are taking a break. I would start now. Next month the holidays begin and that is stressful on its own.. Then the beginning of next year you will be wanting to nest and with a 3rd pregnancy and carrying twins.. I am going to guess, you are going to be completely exhausted. Are you going to have help? Have you made plans for those first 3 months?
You are an amazing woman. Do not burn out. You can go back next summer. You will have a routine and will know what types of helpers you will need. You will have a schedule for the 5 children.
Hang in there, take care of yourself first.. You have 2 babies with you at all times, you need to stay healthy for them.
Yes, you need to talk with a counselor at your school. Each school has their own policies, but most are willing to work with you to help you eventually finish your degree. They are rated on completion percentages, so they don't want you to drop out.
I am working on an online degree and took one requested 6 month leave of absence. Then another time, I just didn't register for classes, and after some time had gone by, they just let me register again and I started classes again.
If you are getting financial aid, taking a longer than six month leave could affect your aid and your repayment schedule. I would ask your counselor about that, if you are getting any kind of aid including loans.
