Feasible??...single moms in dental school

[butterfly411]

whats the most challenging about raising a child independently while focusing on your studies in dental school?

Feasible or not much so???

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[Regmata]

school age? either way, extremely tough without assistance

 

[LJGDDSII]

A friend of mine did it. Her son and my son were in the same grade and on the same soccer and baseball teams. She took advantage of school programs where she could drop her son of before school started and the program where he could stay until six. SHe had good friends that would study at her place so they could study into the night after her son went to bed.
It will be hard but (I used to be single mom) single moms are a special breed they are VERY strong. Where there is a will there is a way. You can do it and don't ever doubt that you can.

She said the biggest thing was a having a routine, but that there had to be some flexibilty to that routine. If your child is school age, talk to the parents of your child's friends. You will be suprised how supporting they can be. Sleep overs are great for a quiet night of studying.

 

[butterfly411]

A friend of mine did it. Her son and my son were in the same grade and on the same soccer and baseball teams. She took advantage of school programs where she could drop her son of before school started and the program where he could stay until six. SHe had good friends that would study at her place so they could study into the night after her son went to bed.
It will be hard but (I used to be single mom) single moms are a special breed they are VERY strong. Where there is a will there is a way. You can do it and don't ever doubt that you can.

She said the biggest thing was a having a routine, but that there had to be some flexibilty to that routine. If your child is school age, talk to the parents of your child's friends. You will be suprised how supporting they can be. Sleep overs are great for a quiet night of studying.

Thanks for the word of encouragement! Its always nice to hear it from someone else. Appreciate the post. Have a good one!

 

[butterfly411]

A friend of mine did it. Her son and my son were in the same grade and on the same soccer and baseball teams. She took advantage of school programs where she could drop her son of before school started and the program where he could stay until six. SHe had good friends that would study at her place so they could study into the night after her son went to bed.
It will be hard but (I used to be single mom) single moms are a special breed they are VERY strong. Where there is a will there is a way. You can do it and don't ever doubt that you can.

She said the biggest thing was a having a routine, but that there had to be some flexibilty to that routine. If your child is school age, talk to the parents of your child's friends. You will be suprised how supporting they can be. Sleep overs are great for a quiet night of studying.

Thanks for the word of encouragement! Its always nice to hear it from someone else. Appreciate the post. Have a good one!

 

[pine88]

there have been other posts on this topic too. You might want to do a search

 

[Soflex]

It is possible to be a single mom and get through dental school. I am living proof that it can be done. It is crazy hard, but if you want it badly enough, you can make it happen.

My daughter is only five but she is supportive of what I am doing and puts up with my endless studying and lab hours the best she can.

It is worth it to me because I am fulfilling my dream of becoming a doctor and I hope that my daughter will come to understand the sacrifices that I am making now will pay off in the long run.

One of the hardest things about it is that I am the only single mom in my class and no one has any clue what I am going through so it is very isolating. That is one of the worst things about it for me.

 

[Gone fishin]

I really admire you ladies that can do this. I guess anything worth having is worth working hard for. Good luck and keep your chin up!!!

 

[butterfly411]

It is possible to be a single mom and get through dental school. I am living proof that it can be done. It is crazy hard, but if you want it badly enough, you can make it happen.

My daughter is only five but she is supportive of what I am doing and puts up with my endless studying and lab hours the best she can.

It is worth it to me because I am fulfilling my dream of becoming a doctor and I hope that my daughter will come to understand the sacrifices that I am making now will pay off in the long run.

One of the hardest things about it is that I am the only single mom in my class and no one has any clue what I am going through so it is very isolating. That is one of the worst things about it for me.

I absolutely feel you! I'm also a single mother and completing my last semester of undergrad studies. My daughter who is also five is very supportive and understanding as well. Guess looking on the brighter side, we both are blessed with great kids and a strong will to take on such challenge. Seems to me like you have it all mapped out and under controll... which is very amirable! work hard. work smart. good luck with your studies and thanks for your post.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

As discussed on SDN and from what I've heard from other dental students, those with families tend to have an enormous amount of motivation that helps to make up for the time that you need to devote to balance between school and family. I don't have children, but my boyfriend moved with me to d-school and he's not related to dentistry at all but takes a great interest in what I share with him. I find that I've actually done very well with being "forced" (in a good way) to ensure that my life is balanced. When I study, I'm efficient about it so that I have more time to cook dinner or go to the movies with him. Also, when I'm home I'm reminded of life outside dental school and I've never pulled an all-nighter in lab or anything like that.

If your child is 5 or older, you may even be able to form routines like bringing him/her to lab WITH you, assuming it's either early enough in the evening or on the weekends and that you're doing a procedure that's safe to have a child around for. But if you bring some good activity books or a laptop and a movie, it can actually form into a cozy ritual and you don't have to choose between being away from him/her and doing your work. I know there are constant interruptions, but hey! Good practice for a busy office 🙂 My boyfriend comes with me to lab all the time. Also, it's really just the first two years that are hell; once you're in clinic, life apparently cools down a lot.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!

 

[Soflex]

If your child is 5 or older, you may even be able to form routines like bringing him/her to lab WITH you, assuming it's either early enough in the evening or on the weekends and that you're doing a procedure that's safe to have a child around for. But if you bring some good activity books or a laptop and a movie, it can actually form into a cozy ritual and you don't have to choose between being away from him/her and doing your work. I know there are constant interruptions, but hey! Good practice for a busy office 🙂 My boyfriend comes with me to lab all the time. Also, it's really just the first two years that are hell; once you're in clinic, life apparently cools down a lot.

This semester I got really desperate and was running out of time... so I took my 5 1/2 year old daughter to the lab with me and she managed to sit with me for FIVE HOURS while I worked on obturating my mounted teeth for endo. Yes, I brought movies and stuff for her, but this has to be some kind of new record in little kid good behavior.

Great post. It is true that being forced to balance school and family can sometimes work to your advantage. And I hope that she will remember these times when she is older, because in a way she had to go through dental school, too.