Studying with a baby Help me!

[angelbeige]

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I have an 18 months old and I’m “trying” to study for the DAT. I was supposed to start studying a long time ago but with my daughter, the house and my part-time job, I haven’t read a word. I have a good science background though. I have a BS in cell biology and I’m taking the Kaplan class (just attending online classes without actually studying!)


I took the DAT last year and scored bad so I’m re-taking it. I know I’m going to be applying late this year but I have to at least try.

Any suggestions on how to do this given that I’m scheduled for 9/14 to take the test.

I know my situation is very uncommon but I would love to hear some advice from other moms out there, if any! Any advice from anyone will be much appreciated.

By the way, I only have my husband to help me out, no family or nannies. He works full time!

Thanks in advance and feel free to grill me all you want, I need it!

 

[Tyrangiel]

You need to put yourself in an environment where you can devote your entire attention to studying for a decent period of time (3-4 hours) to make any headway with studying in my opinion. You mentioned that you don't have any family around to help out with child care so I would look into hiring a sitter. I know in my old neighborhood there would be people who shared nannies to cut down the cost, maybe you could look into that? After spending $1000+ on the Kaplan course, not spending more money to get the time you need to study to yourself is self defeating.

 

[annie12]

get out of the house on the weekends. go to a library or somewhere quiet and spend a large amount of time to actual studying. during the week you can work on doing practice question of what you studied over the weekend (or the last time you were able to devote a large chunk of time). You can just do 5 questions at a time if that's all you have time for, but you could probably get in ten 5- question session throughout the day, then when your husband gets home study for a few hours.

 

[addis4ever]

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE if u have the will and determination for it! A friend of mine that just graduated from dental school told me that the top student in her graduating class was a mother of two kids.
This is a great motivational website i found on SDN. Check it out. When i tend to slack off or lose my drive i remind myself of this dude. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fsm-QbN9r8

 

[wired202808]

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE if u have the will and determination for it! A friend of mine that just graduated from dental school told me that the top student in her graduating class was a mother of two kids.
This is a great motivational website i found on SDN. Check it out. When i tend to slack off or lose my drive i remind myself of this dude. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fsm-QbN9r8

i posted this video back in the day! ET is the man! I still watch this video to this day!

 

[BerrF12]

Put that thing in childcare!! Then you can focus during the day.

 

[radmazindds]

study with your baby! explain concepts TO your baby! that's the most effecient way of learning tough concepts. 🙂 good luck!

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Make your husband take his 2-week vacation now and you can study during this period.

 

[michaelamae1]

Why don't you try what I do. I have five kids at home and three of them are toddlers. We put the kids to bed about 8:30-9:00 and from there I study until 12 or 1. Then I get up about 6 and make my husband his lunch and after he leaves study for another couple of hours while they are sleeping. If I have time between mommy duties and wife duties I try to study but rarely can so at night and early morning helps alot. Its a short sacrifice but in the end all worth it. I quit my job as a dental hygienist to pursue my dream alot of hard but hang in there it will be over soon!!!🙂

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Why don't you try what I do. I have five kids at home and three of them are toddlers. We put the kids to bed about 8:30-9:00 and from there I study until 12 or 1. Then I get up about 6 and make my husband his lunch and after he leaves study for another couple of hours while they are sleeping. If I have time between mommy duties and wife duties I try to study but rarely can so at night and early morning helps alot. Its a short sacrifice but in the end all worth it. I quit my job as a dental hygienist to pursue my dream alot of hard but hang in there it will be over soon!!!🙂

You should make your husband pack his own lunch. C'mon he's a grown man. That's an extra 30 minutes each day and at the end of the week you'll gain an extra 2.5 hours of studying. That's 10 extra hours per month.

What a bum -- make him wake his ass up 30 minutes earlier each day lol!

 

[UPac12]

It gets a little tricky with a kid and spouse. I was in a similar situation. Study time was just as hard for my wife but she made the commitment and wanted a good DAT score as much as I did. She was always watching our baby and hanging out alone at night while I was studying. See if your husband would be willing to watch the little one at night while you got some good studying in. It would only be for a couple of months right? Anyone can do anything for a couple of months if you're committed.

 

[tommyinVA]

It gets a little tricky with a kid and spouse. I was in a similar situation. Study time was just as hard for my wife but she made the commitment and wanted a good DAT score as much as I did. She was always watching our baby and hanging out alone at night while I was studying. See if your husband would be willing to watch the little one at night while you got some good studying in. It would only be for a couple of months right? Anyone can do anything for a couple of months if you're committed.

He's absolutely right. As a father of 3 (6, 3, 11 months), there was a LOT of sacrifice to be made in our house while I was prepping for the DAT. If your husband works a 9 to 5, then you're looking at a lot of late nights. If you can't afford to put the kids in childcare during the day, then you're REALLY looking at a lot of late nights AND your husband should be expecting a lot of busy weekends taking care of your children while you study.

You both need to bear in mind that if you should succeed and matriculate and eventually complete dental school, then you will ALL benefit from your work, thus you should ALL be willing to bear the burden of what's expected to get your there, meaning you should ALL be prepared to sacrifice. I could have never accomplished what I've done so far without my wife and her support, but she'll benefit from my success as well: as soon as I finish dental school, she's getting her master's in nursing and most likely continuing on to complete her doctorate.

If your husband is neither willing nor able to help and watch the kids to give you any available second you can find to study (particularly when you need it the most, meaning NOW), then I'm afraid you'll most likely never reach your goal as I can't imagine dental school to be any easier.

 

[Msmouth]

I have 2 boys, age 2 and 4. I also gave up my hours as a dental hygienist, at a great office, for the hopes of getting into dental school. I am still working part-time and in the throws of summer Gen Chem 2. I have maybe watched a total of 2 hours of tv in the last month and of course no movies. Pretty much all of my "free" time is devoted to my class. I'm grateful my husband puts up with me. I start College full-time at the end of August.

It's very hard to balance the time but I couldn't do it without the support of my family. My husband has been taking the kids out for large chunks of time on the weekends. I feel really bad sometimes as some days I see my kids just in the morning and at bedtime. I just have to keep my eye on the prize and know it's for the greater good.

Lately I have studied as late as I could stand and then would wake up at 5 am to study more before an exam.
I won't be taking the DAT until next summer but I have already purchased a couple of books and software to help me study. I figure during my breaks I will devote time to studying for the DAT.
Good luck! Do you have your test scheduled yet? What about a mother's helper or a neighbor with a young child. You can trade off babysitting with each other, it's free ( : Maybe you can arrange 3 hours per week each. She can get something done and so can you.

To the poster with 5 kids! Wow, wow, wow! You are my inspiration!

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Why don't you try what I do. I have five kids at home and three of them are toddlers. We put the kids to bed about 8:30-9:00 and from there I study until 12 or 1. Then I get up about 6 and make my husband his lunch and after he leaves study for another couple of hours while they are sleeping. If I have time between mommy duties and wife duties I try to study but rarely can so at night and early morning helps alot. Its a short sacrifice but in the end all worth it. I quit my job as a dental hygienist to pursue my dream alot of hard but hang in there it will be over soon!!!🙂

You have my respect.

 

[youknowthedrill]

I don't think its possible to study while your 18 month old is awake. Study while your baby sleeps. If you can afford it, day care for the next couple of months would be helpful. Another option that would be much cheaper is having a pre-teen or teenage neighbor come entertain your child while you study in a quite corner. I'm a mom of two (3 & 5) and I personally can't get anything done while they are awake. I was a stay at home mom and returned to school two years ago and enrolled my girls in daycare. I had lots of mommy guilt, but I got over it. I was so worried about leaving them at first but they always want to stay longer to play. I also rented a hotel room for the weekend to study for finals and my husband and mother-in-law watched the girls. It was Mothers Day weekend and I was in a hotel away from them. Lots of mommy guilt- but it was necessary. You and your husband need to work together to help you find lots of time so you can do well on the DAT.

 

[HannibalLecter]

1) House situation:

You need to move in with a family member if you are at home single or get your husband/boyfriend/SO to start helping around the house more. Whoever is the closest to you will understand that this test is the most important thing right now. You have enough on your plate studying for this and taking care of the baby. Let some other people take care of your other troubles. Its only for a little bit.

2) An 18 month old baby takes a lot of naps so study in 2 hour gaps. This is good because while he/she sleeps, you can focus all your attention to studying for the DATs and plus taking breaks here and there.

3) If you can take him/her to libraries where there are summer activity programs where they can watch your little one for a couple of hours for free

4) If you can afford it babysitting for a couple of months part time would not be a bad idea at all. Work with people around you to rotate schedules to see if you can fit in watching the baby, going to work and studying. Its possible and you can do it. Ask for a leave of absence for a little bit from work if you can.