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The Struggle

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Being a parent makes things more complicated if you’re also a student. I’m so fortunate to have a supportive wife and son. As a parent/student (and occasional teacher) I thought I’d let you know that I know. While there are many things that make being a student complicated (loans, jobs, grades, assignments, bad teachers, extracurricular stuff, pledging, etc.), being a parent has been, for me, the most difficult by far. I don’t want to imply that I wish I wasn’t a parent (because I love being a Dad), but I do want to empathize with other parent/students out there who … Continue reading →

Should You Go Back to School?

A question many of us ask ourselves in our careers, would I be able to advance higher in my job if I had more education? Typically, the answers vary on the job and the company. One example is executives who want a MBA. Is it necessary to have a MBA to get ahead in business? Whatever your field is, the best first step is to start looking for the job you want, before you actually get the degree. Don’t waste your time or money; if you can land the job without the degree, then go for it! See if it … Continue reading →

Taking Continuing Education Classes

We have written here in the Single Parents blog about the challenges and rewards of going back to college or taking higher education classes in order to improve one’s situation, but we haven’t talked much about other types of classes. Community and Continuing Education courses can be a great way to get training, learn something new, meet new people, and gain confidence and self-esteem. There are some great things about community education classes that make them perfect for the single parent—often the hours are convenient (one night a week instead of several, evenings instead of during the day, etc.) and … Continue reading →

Higher Education Can Be a Priority for a Single Parent

I will be absolutely honest and confess here that I don’t know if getting my undergraduate (B.A.) degree has actually increased my earning power and potential or not. I live in a college city with a rather tight job market and for the work I do, having that degree might help a bit, but I still don’t make a comfortable living wage without doing freelance work in addition to more conventional type work. BUT, I do think that finishing my college degree as a single parent was important for my family’s stability and my own self esteem. I am somewhat … Continue reading →

Living Within Your Means

I recently saw part of a skit on Saturday Night Live titled “Don’t Buy Things You Can’t Afford” with Steve Martin where a married couple were absolutely perplexed about the idea of saving for a purchase rather than making a purchase with a credit card. Another actor kept stating over and over in an infomercial type voice “Don’t buy things you can’t afford” to which Steve Martin would respond “Oh, so buy it on my credit card now so I can have it?” It was a hilarious look into American society’s buying habits. One of my goals this year is … Continue reading →