How To Study And Raise Twins At The Same Time

Tips on studying and raising children simultaneously 

So, you’ve got twins! Raising two children is undoubtedly a rewarding experience, but doing so at the same time certainly brings its challenges. One aspect of life that you may have assumed was out of the question, now that you’re a parent of multiples, is that of going to university. Traditionally, higher education is not particularly family-friendly, with compulsory lectures and seminars at set times, and although some institutions do offer crèche facilities, these have limited hours and can be expensive, adding to the cost of university fees. Furthermore, lecturers, support staff and fellow students may not be encouraging towards studying parents, especially mothers, choosing instead to believe the stereotypes that it’s impossible to cope and concentrate at university between breast feeding, building blocks, and bathing babies.

That probably all sounds rather demoralising, if you’re thinking of completing a degree whilst raising your twins. However, you need not despair, because higher education is changing. Thanks to developments in technology over recent years, distance learning has become much more feasible, and it’s now possible to achieve both Bachelor and Master degrees at online universities; there’s all the support that you might expect at a face-to-face institution, yet without the commuting and awkward timings. The last several years have seen numerous of the World’s strongest Universities offering online courses, with the intention of getting a certain percentage of the students ‘hooked’ and enrolled into their full-time programs. Today, there are Universities – like for instance NC IUL – that primarily focus on distance learning and specialize in online degrees, offering full online programmes on an international level. With a range of courses from short undergraduate-level modules to postgraduate degrees, NC IUL makes higher education easier for busy mums by offering round-the-clock access to video lectures and slides, self-assessment tests and forums where students can chat in order to combat any feelings of loneliness which some (incorrectly!) associate with online studies.

So, there are options out there, and there is support for studying parents. Yet, after a sleepless night with the twins, you may well be wondering how on Earth tutorials and essays could possibly fit into your schedule. The first thing to remember is that graduating is indeed an accomplishable goal, however hard it may seem at times! A little organisation, such as making a timetable of both university-related and personal activities, setting priorities and realistic goals, and taking breaks to recharge your batteries, can go a long way in helping you to achieve your qualification. Talking to other mums who are juggling parenting and studying can provide both motivation, encouragement, and support when things seem overwhelming. Another idea is to involve your little ones, depending on their ages, by giving them a certain toy to play with or a set task, such as their own homework, to do at the time when you hit the books; this will help you gain a sense of routine, as well as allow the children to get used to Mum’s new schedule. Also, try not to push yourself too hard! Ask for help when you need it, whether that’s from your tutor or your babysitter. Things might seem like too much occasionally, but a degree is definitely within your reach, more so than ever!