My kids make me feel like a superhero. About two semesters ago, when I was hit with a motivation slump I thought would never end, my daughter came up to me and put her head on my shoulder.
“Mommy, when you are going to be done with school?”
“I don’t know, baby. Probably in another year or so.”
She looked confused. “So…what kind of school do you go to?”
“Well…” I racked my brain trying to figure out how to explain graduate school to her. “You know how you go to elementary school?”
“Yeah….” she said.
“Well, there’s elementary school, then middle school, then high school, then college, and then there’s graduate school. I’m in graduate school.”
She paused for a minute and her eyes got wide. “You mean, it’s like Super College?”
Her brother jumped in the conversation. “Yeah!! Super College! Super College!” They both collapsed into a heap and giggled.
I laughed too. I wouldn’t have even thought to call it “Super College,” but that’s what kids are for, I guess.
Ever since that day, I thought about that conversation and used it to give myself motivation on those days when I didn’t want to go to class, didn’t want to think about my thesis and I didn’t want to think about how many courses were left until graduation.
When I had to leave them to go to class, I’d call out, “I’ll be back – I’m going to Super College!” They’d laugh and wave goodbye.
They kept me going. They gave me so much strength to purse my goals. When I’m unsure of myself, when I didn’t think I had any energy left for a project or a 15-page paper, I look to my children and I think about what I would want them to do in that situation. Shrink back or be fierce? Well, if you know me, you already know the answer.
So that’s my advice to the moms who are in school — you are a superhero. Keep your head up and keep your eyes focused on your goals. You CAN do this. If you ever start feeling like you can’t do it, just tell yourself that you are setting the example. What you do now is what your kids will draw on when they need strength. Hang in there.
Great Post I needed to read this!!
My son doesn’t really understand what I do but he knows that I go to school. My daughter on the other hand, she doesn’t hesitate to tell anyone, “My mommy graduated from college but she went back to build more robots.” LOL!
I love how you’re starting to post more pictures!
I’m hoping to start college next year, and my daughter thinks it’s pretty cool. We drive past the college often and she always points it out.
Even though I’m anxious and excited, I know when I start college it will be a huge change for the both of us. This post is inspiring though. It’s comforting to know others go through it and “survive” so maybe I will, too.