Scott Gulledge / Scroll
Sarah Jackson, a senior from Riverside, Calif., is one student juggling the responsibilities between homework, housework and caring for her baby daughter, Mikayla.

Being torn: the balance of school and motherhood

Jamie Moon MOO05002@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Strollers and car seats have become an increasingly frequent sight on BYU-Idaho’s campus.

Many mothers are choosing to take on the responsibility of going to school while being a wife and a mother.

Mothers are making changes to juggle busy home lives along with completing their education.

Between finding time to study and finding time to take care of their children, this can be a challenging task.

Keri Button is one mother who knows just how challenging this can be. With two children, ages 4 and 1, Button says it is important to have a set routine.

“I have to study mostly in the evenings when they’re in bed. I try to do all of my studying from home.

All of my classes are in the afternoon, so I do things that I have to get done, such as appointments for the kids, in the mornings,” Button said.

“Not only is a routine important for the kids, but it helps the adults as well. You have to set aside time to get things done.”

Melissa Houston, a senior from Vancouver, Wash., is another example. With one child of almost 6 weeks old, Houston had to drop her class because her baby was born premature.

This hasn’t stopped her from planning ahead, however. She has already started thinking about what she will do when she begins school again.

“I will try to stay home as much as I can, as long as I am in an apartment with Internet. When I do have to go to class, either my husband or my friend will watch the baby,” Houston said.

Margaret Bake, an instructor in the Home and Family Department, noticed some challenges young mothers are facing.

“I think the biggest challenge is that of child care. Mothers are trying to juggle family and school responsibilities.

“[In my classes] I see an increasing number of pregnant women, some mothers and even some dads.

“I see a lot of hand-offs in the hall. Whoever has to go to class is handing the baby off to their spouse,” Bake said.

Mothers are not the only ones having to make changes. The fathers are doing some rearranging as well.

“My husband isn’t working this semester because we arranged our schedules so that he comes home when I leave. It really takes a lot of his study time,” Button said.

Brittney Henderson, a sophomore from Pleasant Grove, Utah, is one student who is attending school while pregnant.

She said not many of major changes have taken place yet, but once the baby is born, some changes will happen.

“I will have to defer one semester and my husband and I will have to have switching schedules,” Henderson said.

Classes are available at BYU-Idaho that may help students prepare to become parents.

“I took child development before I was even married.

“I got my associate’s degree in generals, but I changed to child development because that is what I have always had an interest in,” Button said. “It helps me a lot with my own family.

“I use the information from my classes every day. I hope to be able to stay home with my kids after I get my degree.”

Bake said there are a lot of classes offered by BYU-I that can benefit mothers.

“Child Development is a good overview of growth and development from birth through adolescence.

“It is a three credit class, and it also fulfills a social science requirement.

“Practical Homemaking is a good class also. It covers cooking, sewing and money management. It is three classes taught in five week blocks.

“Family 100 is a class based on the Family Proclamation. It is not just for mothers, but for families in general,” Bake said.

Houston says having children while attending school requires a great desire to obtain a degree.

“If you have a will and a desire to graduate, go for it. It will be worth it.

The knowledge we acquire will help us teach our children. Also, it will give me something to fall back on if I ever need it,” Houston said.

Bake encourages women to finish their education, as it will benefit them in raising their families.

“I would really encourage women to finish their education.

“Hang in there and get done, no matter what degree. They’ll use it with their families even though they might never earn a paycheck with it. Endure to the end!” she said.