Overcoming Mom Guilt When Going Back to College

Moms, we get it: Going back to school while in the thick of parenting can be really hard. But, mothers who have already done it say everything is going to be okay — really.

When you’re a mom, choosing to prioritize your own future can feel like a zero-sum game for your kids. It’s tempting to think that choosing to invest in yourself means choosing not to invest in them.

You may worry: Are my children going to get what they need? Will I miss out on their important moments? Will all their memories of me include the glow of a laptop on my face?

Mom guilt aside, returning to school later in life comes with its own anxieties: Will I remember how to study? Will I be the oldest person in my class? How do I balance all of my responsibilities? Is this even going to pay off?

It’s totally normal to ask yourself these questions. But don’t let guilt or fear stop you from moving forward. Instead, start by considering the research:

IWPR Report: Parents In College By the Numbers

The data is clear: More and more moms are going back to school to improve their career prospects and support their families — and as a result, their kids are better off.

But of course, the numbers aren’t all rosy.

Every parent will face unique obstacles that make going back to college a challenge. We spoke to moms from all walks of life who are in school right now or went back while still having kids in the house. They discuss their biggest fears and offer some hard-won advice.

Michelle Keldgord went back to school for a dental assistant program when her youngest was only a year old. “The hardest part was leaving my baby with family members for several hours. I felt like I was missing out on her growing up,” she said. “I really felt that mom guilt because I wasn’t there to soak up every single moment with my child.”

Keldgord had always wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom, but she realized she needed to find a way to provide for her kids. And she wanted to show them what she was capable of. “They saw me push through the difficult times, and I think that will continue to benefit them as they approach their teen years,” she said.

“Looking back, it was kind of ridiculous to place all that guilt on myself,” said Keldgord. “When I was done with school, I had all the time in the world to spend with my baby. I didn’t need to add the extra stress on myself.”

Carmel Young went back to school and then had two kids, back-to-back. “I worry every day about not being able to give our two kids, our puppy — even my husband — the attention they deserve. There is nothing worse than not being able to help your kid with homework because you have to do your own,” said Young. “It’s a gut-wrenching feeling. But that doesn’t actually happen very often.”

Don’t underestimate what the kids are capable of, said Young. If you make a point to communicate at every stage of your educational journey, they will adjust.

“As long as you are transparent about what you are trying to accomplish and you don’t blindside them, they will understand. Remember: This isn’t just for your benefit, but for the benefit of your entire family’s future as well,” she said.

Most kids even get a small academic boost from having a mom in school.

Kristin Bate was a teacher before she left the classroom to stay at home with her three boys, who are now nine, seven, and three. She went back for a master’s degree this year in special education with a certification as a diagnostician, inspired by her experience homeschooling her eldest, who has ADHD and dyslexia.

“I’m so excited to do this work,” she says. “I have a huge heart for it. But at the same time, going back to school at this stage of life has been really intimidating. It’s been sixteen years since I was in college!”

It’s normal to wonder if you’ve forgotten how to be a student, she said. You certainly won’t be the student you were in your teens and twenties when the only person you had to take care of was yourself.

“It’s so different. I’m more motivated now, more mature,” said Bate. “But at the same time, I’m pulled in a thousand different directions. I have to learn how to sit down and dedicate myself to not doing housework. Sometimes, my kids need me at four in the morning when I’ve just gone to bed at midnight after a study session.”

One helpful tactic is to carve up the hours of the day for dedicated tasks. “Have scheduled times for everything. I don’t study during the day at all. When my husband gets home, we try to spend a little time together. We make dinner and put the kids to bed. I take a walk. And when I know everyone’s needs are taken care of, I sit down to do my own work at night. That way, I can focus on what I need to do.”

When Shannon Forest-Reeves went back to college in 2009, online education wasn’t really an option yet. She had one child in school, one in daycare, and a newborn. Her husband was also in school, and they couldn’t afford the extra childcare.

“We went to the same campus. We would literally pass the baby off between classes, like a football. My mother was a university secretary, and sometimes when our schedules overlapped, we’d have to leave the baby with her,” said Forrest-Reeves.

“I look back on those impossible days, and I don’t know how we survived. We were on food stamps. We had to take loans out just to live on. Everything was tight: our time, our attention, our money.”

But Forrest-Reeves says all the chaos and stress was worth it. She and her husband both ended up with master’s degrees and can now give their three girls a stable life. When COVID-19 hit, she was suddenly in charge of schooling her high schooler and middle schooler. She felt like her education gave her the confidence to do a great job.

“At the end of the day, getting through school as a mom means putting one foot in front of the other. It won’t be easy, it won’t be glamorous, but you will be so proud of yourself. And the kids are watching: They are learning that really cool things can happen when you devote yourself to working hard for something you want.”