Balancing family life, a budget, and a demanding learning journey is a huge undertaking for any parent. However, in today’s job market, the only way to stay ahead is by upskilling to keep pace with technology and trends.
To do this, the family’s support is critical. Otherwise, it would be like paving the path to burnout yourself. You need a strong support network (grandparents, siblings, other parents willing to help out) and an understanding partner.
Even when you have all these, there’s still a lot of strategizing to do. Not to mention the added financial burden on your family budget. But with everyone’s help and a few tricks up your sleeve, things will definitely go smoothly.
To give you a head start, we’ve compiled a list of five things a family can do to support a parent who is studying. So, let’s get cracking!
1. Establish and Protect a Study Schedule and Zone
Kids, especially younger ones, don’t really grasp what you mean when you say, “Mommy has to study now. Be nice and play by yourself.” What they do understand is behavior they can see and model. With gentle consistency, they can learn to respect boundaries that are clearly and calmly enforced.
Work with your partner to create a schedule around the kid(s)’ nap, kindergarten, or play times. These are times when you can supervise the young ones while your partner studies.
Next, set up a dedicated Study Zone, whether it’s a desk or a corner of the kitchen table, where the person studying can focus without interruptions. To help kids understand when Mommy or Daddy needs quiet time, create a simple, easy-to-follow household rule that everyone respects.
For example, if the studying partner has their headphones on, that means no talking to or from them.
2. Become an Active Learning Partner
Even if you don’t know much about what your partner is learning, you can still be their sounding board or quiz them. At the end of each session, have your partner explain what they’ve learned in 10 minutes or less.
It may not be much, but it helps them consolidate knowledge and identify areas that need improvement. It’s also a great way to show support and be involved in your partner’s journey.
3. Talk Openly About Costs
It’s not easy to run a family nowadays. It costs over $300,000 to raise a child in the U.S., and the rising inflation and housing costs sure don’t make it easier. Even if you’re a middle- to high-income household, you might still need to devise strategies to maintain financial stability as a family, especially when one of the partners is going through a career change or upskilling.
Depending on the type of classes and exams the studying partner has to take, costs can range from $1,000+ to over $10,000. For instance, if their goal is to work as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), the costs range between $ 3,500 and $4,600+ for all three exam levels, according to the CFA Institute.
However, the price tag you see usually doesn’t cover the extra essentials, like prep materials and online study platforms, that students need to get ready. The good news is that you don’t always have to pay full price.
Many major providers, such as Kaplan, offer discounts directly on their websites or through vouchers and promo codes. This means that you can maximize your partner’s Kaplan test prep savings (or savings for any other test prep platform) with a simple Google search.
4. Ask Everyone to Chip In
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a village and a half to help a parent who is actively working on improving their education.
Keeping kids happy and safe is tough, even for two adults, so don’t be afraid to ask your family and friends for help when you need it. Ask the grandparents to babysit a few days during the week, and siblings or friends can help with cooking and cleaning.
This way, the parent managing the kids doesn’t burn out from doing everything at once, and the home stays clean, safe, and ready for the little ones to play and grow.
5. Prioritize Mandatory Fun and Rest Breaks
The brain needs time to unwind to process information at optimal speed. So, everyday study is not the most efficient way to prepare for a test.
Make sure your partner has No-Study Days that are for mandatory fun with the entire family. During this time, study is strictly forbidden. It may actually be best to get out of the house and go to a movie, a park, or visit friends and family.
The goal here is to remind your incredibly hard-working partner that they are loved, seen, and appreciated. This planned downtime actually makes study time more productive.
Wrap Up
When you have your entire family’s support, it’s a lot easier to go through information-heavy materials and prepare for brain-draining exams. And once you take the exam and start working, it will be your turn to support everyone else. Family life is a constant game of give and take.
