I am an undergraduate college student. I do my classes strictly online. I have papers, projects, finals, and studying to do. I am also a mother. I have three children ages six, four, and two. I am also lucky enough to work from home a few hours a day gaining experience in my career field. Needless to say this requires quite a bit of juggling. Here's how I survive it.

Coffee

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Coffee

I'm only kidding. Sort of. Keeping your energy levels up is incredibly important. If your children sense you're having a bad day that's basically their cue to wreak havoc among your home. I try to keep energized and happy. This is not always easy. I take vitamins, exercise, and I try to get as much sleep as my mama's boy two year old allows. I average around seven hours a night considering I have to be up at 4:30 for work. I've found that listening to music or taking a hot shower first thing in the morning gives me a jump start to my day.

Time Management

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Time

Sticking to a strict schedule is the key to my sanity. My kids have a ton of extra curricular activities. I work. My husband works twelve hour days. I have to keep everyone on a schedule to avoid chaos. Even simple things such as on Tuesdays at 10 we go to the Library. They do story time while I used the computers to do homework. Keeping to a schedule is not always easy. There are days that I am so tired I barely want to get up in the mornings, much less get three children dressed and take my four year old to speech therapy. Or shuttle them all to my six year old's cheer practice. And I definitely don't want to go to my desk instead my bed once I've got them sleeping soundly, but it keeps everything from piling up and becoming unbearable.

Chick Fil A.

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Baby Chic

Chick Fil A has free Wi-Fi, good food, and a play house with glass walls. The kids are happy, I get my homework and writing done, everyone wins. Even if we've already had lunch the kids love getting ice cream.

Organization

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Desk

Being organized is incredibly important. As a creative type I tend to lean toward organized chaos and it has been a chore to shift my mindset. Now everything has a place. Everything is labeled. I have a household to run on top of college, work, and three tiny tornadoes. I have a system for almost everything. We have a gigantic wall calendar where all appointments, activities, and family events go. When I finish work at 7:30 in the morning I immediately go downstairs, prep breakfast, fold a load of laundry, and wash any dishes that are in the sink. I spent so many years in a constant state of chaos and anxiety before I got organized. I have specific times that I have to do my homework. I have my desk set up for maximum productivity.

Patience

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Breathe

I have not always been a patient person. It is a learned trait. I must tell you, kids know all of the secrets to pushing you to your limits. With the help of meditation and anxiety medication I've learned to take things as they come. Don't worry, I've always suffered from anxiety, the kids didn't cause it. I've had to learn to stop and take deep breaths. When I feel the urge to give up on my homework and just leave it for the next day I remember that it'll be worse tomorrow.

My children are my life, but I also want to have a career that I can be proud of. I want a career that they can be proud of. I didn't go to college right out of high school because I had no clue who I wanted to be. When I finally found the person I wanted to be I was already married and a mother of three. My ex husband leaving me with three children to take care of was the final straw that convinced me to start school. It hasn't been easy but by the end it will definitely be worth it.