How I Take Classes after Work as a Single Mom

For many, the last thing they want to do after a full day of work is go to class. Even if it’s online. Even if they don’t have to go anywhere. Even if wearing pants are not necessary to attend. The idea of sitting at their computer for a single minute longer after work seems ridiculously unappealing.

If this is you, then do yourself a favor and realize that the class you are considering is just not for you.

If you seriously rather get a root canal than sit two to three days a week in front of your computer learning a particular topic, the good news is: you are not passionate about that particular topic.

This is valuable discovery. Many people trudge along taking classes and even getting degrees in subjects they are not passionate about!

There is no need to subject yourself to misery. You get a free pass. Move on. Watch Bridgerton on Netflix. Enjoy your life! Find other hobbies or classes that spark a fire in you. Save your energy for those activities. Not a class you are only mildly interested in.

Now, if there is a class you are interested in, but are afraid of how hard it will be taking classes at night after working, go ahead and accept one important fact:

IT WILL BE HARD.

But you can do hard things.

Again, if you are not interested in going through some pain, then your passion is not in this particular subject. That’s okay!

If you are willing to go through the pain of focusing after work to learn, then your passion is there. Use that passion to make taking classes at night work for you.

I am a single mom and have now taken a few courses online with my daughter home with me during these quarantine times. Some of these classes run late, directly running into the time we do our bedtime routine. This is how I make night classes work for us.

1. I plan my day accordingly the best I can.

If I have class that night, I rearrange our bedtime activities around the class. It might mean doing our nightly affirmations, family journal time, and bedtime reading earlier or later depending on the time of the class.

I’m currently taking a course that is on Pacific Time, while I’m on East Coast Time. This means I’m up and learning later than I normally would be. A lot of the time, my daughter can’t sleep if I’m up talking on a video call.

Do I spend the time I should be learning telling her repeatedly to go to sleep. No. Sometimes, she climb on my lap and cuddles me while she is sleepy. Other times, she is absorbed in playing a game and falls asleep in the middle of it.

2. I save an especially fun activity for my daughter while I am in class.

I try to schedule a fun activity for my daughter during my class time. This can be as organized as making Valentines or coloring princess printouts to FaceTiming with my daughter’s grandparents.

3. If things don’t go as planned, I relax.

I used to be a parent hyper-worried about schedules. “If I don’t follow this strict schedule every single day, my daughter won’t have stability, which will endanger her emotional well being!”

I stopped panicking every single time my homeschool and work from home day didn’t go as planned. This also goes for class time at night.

I just go with it. This might mean: she brings her toothbrush to me while I’m in lecture and I brush her teeth in front of the computer. This might mean: she is sitting on my lap while we eat dinner. This might mean: our whole day went off the rails and we both end up going to bed late.

I remain calm during these imperfect days. If I stay calm calm about it, she stays calm about it. Plus, she learns that it’s okay if your day doesn’t going exactly as planned. It’s no reason to break down and cry. It’s no reason, you still can’t have a great day.

4. I embrace how hard it is going to be.

I’m not going to lie to you. It’s tough. After homeschooling my daughter and working all day, sitting down to learn is difficult. When I start to get tired and my mind drifts, I remember my WHY.

I remember the reason I’m taking that particular class. It keeps me going. When on the weekends, I’m doing homework, I remember my WHY again.

Learning after work is a mental game. You can do it. It will be mentally challenging, but if you want it enough, you can absolutely accomplish your learning goals.