As a parent, you have to think about more than yourself. More than that, you have to put your kids first. However, that doesn’t mean you have to put all your dreams on hold until your kids grow up.
What it does mean is thinking carefully about how your choices will impact your children as well as yourself. If you’d like to get an MBA as an investment in your career but you work full-time while balancing parenthood, then you might be wondering if it’s a realistic goal.
The answer is: it depends. Your life circumstances will influence how much time and energy you have to put toward an advanced degree. Here are some important factors to consider.
Your Children’s Ages
Kids get more and more independent as they get older, so the age of your children will matter a lot in your grad school plans. If your kids haven’t started school yet, then they will need a lot more of your time and supervision.
While you might be able to earn a degree while parenting very young children, it’s probably not a realistic goal. It might be best to wait until your kids are a little older to pursue your MBA.
If your kids are a little older and have their own homework to do, it could make things a lot easier. You could even study together!
Your Parenting Situation
If you have a spouse or partner who is available to pick up some extra parenting slack, then it will be much easier to earn your degree than it will if you are a single parent.
Single parents who go back to school typically need to sacrifice some extra sleep so they can study, which takes a toll in the long term. With that said, you still might be able to complete your degree while caring for your kids on your own, as long as you can make childcare arrangements.
If you share custody of your kids, you might also be able to fit your school responsibilities around your parenting duties. You might have to get creative and find pockets of unused time throughout the week, but getting your degree will be worth the effort.
Your Job’s Flexibility & Demands
Full-time jobs vary a lot. If you work in an office from 9-5 and then have an hour commute to get home to your family, then it’s not likely that you have time to get an MBA right now—especially if you’re also expected to check email after hours. If your job is a little less demanding and more flexible, however, then it might be fine to enroll in classes.
If you want to get an MBA but you don’t know if your current schedule will allow it, you might try talking to your boss. See if you can work from home a couple of days a week, or see if you can adjust your hours so you can optimize your schedule for getting your MBA while working. Who knows — your company might even help pay for your MBA if it will make you an even more valuable employee!
Your Personal Capacity
Getting a degree while raising kids AND working a full-time job is absolutely possible. However, it’s important to know your own capacity and limits.
It’s not bad to recognize that you can’t or simply don’t want to add yet another responsibility onto your plate at the moment. You need to be honest with yourself about whether or not getting a degree right now will be a recipe for personal burnout.
Remember, you have some options if you feel that it’s not the right time to pursue your master’s full-time at the moment. You can wait until your life is a little less hectic. Or, you can attend part-time to make going back to school more realistic for this season of your life.
Your MBA Goals
Why do you want to get an MBA? Are you hoping to advance more in your career? Start a business? Change careers?
Getting clear on your goals can help you decide if now is the time to go through the process of getting a degree. You’ll also want to research different program requirements and see which options might work best for you, considering your current situation.
As a working parent, online classes can be a fantastic option. You’ll enjoy a lot more flexibility while still working toward a versatile and powerful degree. You don’t have to attend classes in a physical classroom to get a lot out of the curriculum!
Weigh the Pros and Cons
At the end of the day, only you can decide if now is the right time to pursue an MBA. Take some time to consider the pros and cons before you move forward. Remember, your children are looking up to you, so whether you choose to wait or not, don’t give up on your dreams, even if you have to postpone them.
Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren
With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.
What it does mean is thinking carefully about how your choices will impact your children as well as yourself. If you’d like to get an MBA as an investment in your career but you work full-time while balancing parenthood, then you might be wondering if it’s a realistic goal.
The answer is: it depends. Your life circumstances will influence how much time and energy you have to put toward an advanced degree. Here are some important factors to consider.
Your Children’s Ages
Kids get more and more independent as they get older, so the age of your children will matter a lot in your grad school plans. If your kids haven’t started school yet, then they will need a lot more of your time and supervision.
While you might be able to earn a degree while parenting very young children, it’s probably not a realistic goal. It might be best to wait until your kids are a little older to pursue your MBA.
If your kids are a little older and have their own homework to do, it could make things a lot easier. You could even study together!
Your Parenting Situation
If you have a spouse or partner who is available to pick up some extra parenting slack, then it will be much easier to earn your degree than it will if you are a single parent.
Single parents who go back to school typically need to sacrifice some extra sleep so they can study, which takes a toll in the long term. With that said, you still might be able to complete your degree while caring for your kids on your own, as long as you can make childcare arrangements.
If you share custody of your kids, you might also be able to fit your school responsibilities around your parenting duties. You might have to get creative and find pockets of unused time throughout the week, but getting your degree will be worth the effort.
Your Job’s Flexibility & Demands
Full-time jobs vary a lot. If you work in an office from 9-5 and then have an hour commute to get home to your family, then it’s not likely that you have time to get an MBA right now—especially if you’re also expected to check email after hours. If your job is a little less demanding and more flexible, however, then it might be fine to enroll in classes.
If you want to get an MBA but you don’t know if your current schedule will allow it, you might try talking to your boss. See if you can work from home a couple of days a week, or see if you can adjust your hours so you can optimize your schedule for getting your MBA while working. Who knows — your company might even help pay for your MBA if it will make you an even more valuable employee!
Your Personal Capacity
Getting a degree while raising kids AND working a full-time job is absolutely possible. However, it’s important to know your own capacity and limits.
It’s not bad to recognize that you can’t or simply don’t want to add yet another responsibility onto your plate at the moment. You need to be honest with yourself about whether or not getting a degree right now will be a recipe for personal burnout.
Remember, you have some options if you feel that it’s not the right time to pursue your master’s full-time at the moment. You can wait until your life is a little less hectic. Or, you can attend part-time to make going back to school more realistic for this season of your life.
Your MBA Goals
Why do you want to get an MBA? Are you hoping to advance more in your career? Start a business? Change careers?
Getting clear on your goals can help you decide if now is the time to go through the process of getting a degree. You’ll also want to research different program requirements and see which options might work best for you, considering your current situation.
As a working parent, online classes can be a fantastic option. You’ll enjoy a lot more flexibility while still working toward a versatile and powerful degree. You don’t have to attend classes in a physical classroom to get a lot out of the curriculum!
Weigh the Pros and Cons
At the end of the day, only you can decide if now is the right time to pursue an MBA. Take some time to consider the pros and cons before you move forward. Remember, your children are looking up to you, so whether you choose to wait or not, don’t give up on your dreams, even if you have to postpone them.
Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren