The Joys and Pains of Being a Working, College Mom: Intoduction

 

7 years ago, if someone told me I would be a working, college mom today I would have become very offended. Not only offended, but defensive. I would have responded something along the lines of, "I'm never having kids! I am certain I'll spend my entire life making all of my dreams come true, and giving back to my community." But here I am. Still striving to make my dreams come true, but with a full-time job, as a full-time undergraduate student, and a 3 years old daughter.

There are joys and pains of being a working, college mom with no husband, no father, a mother who is up in age, and siblings who all have their own lives and children. As a mother I do not regret my daughter, but I sometimes wish that I waited to have her at a more appropriate time in my life. My mother told me something when I was pregnant that I literally have to tell myself at least once a day to keep me going, "You are not the first woman to have a child when you feel you weren't ready, a child without a husband; and you will not be the last. Anything you wanted to do, anything you wanted to be before this baby, you can still become."


Day in and day out, I strive to be everything I want to be and do everything I want to do for the sake of me and my daughter's well-being and our happiness. Also, for the sake of what I believe my purpose and my passion is--giving back to my community; encouraging and inspiring women, and especially children that face everyday challenges and obstacles in life. The hard part is simply that it is just not enough hours in a day or enough energy within me to do everything effectively and successfully. This only means that some aspects and areas of my life will lack, at least until I find balance.

Most times it's school where I slack the most. I value my education. I love learning. If I did not have to work for a living and raise a daughter, I'd probably spend my days earning degrees, living in paradise reading, listening to music, and blogging in my spare time; however, in real life it just will never workout that way for me. So school is a must, but what is more important than school? Having a roof over me and my daughter's head and food on our table. So work is the aspect of my life where I am the most effective and dedicated because without making my own money, there is no means of survival. Back to the point, school lacks the most. Work is priority one along with my daughter, and then there is my family and friends.



If I could sum up in one word what it is like being a working, college mom I would. But I cannot. So if you're reading this, take this journey with me until I earn my masters or even my doctorates, and I will sum up what it is like being a working, college mom with all the words in my vocabulary. I am certain I can use every last one to describe the experience. Here it goes. Until next time.