Going Back to School as a Working Mom: Why I Almost Quit (And What Changed My Mind)

I scrolled endlessly through academic databases, searching for the perfect survey questionnaire to adapt for my research study, when my youngest burst into the room demanding a snack and my oldest called out that he couldn't find his Nintendo controller. The overwhelming stress of being a working mom trying to balance family life and education pressed down on me as I sat at my kitchen table, surrounded by textbooks and my children's drawing books, wondering how other mothers made juggling everything look so effortless. My single course felt like climbing Mount Everest while carrying two backpacks, each assignment feeling more challenging than the last, leaving me questioning whether I belonged in this academic world as a mature student.

Every night felt like a battle between exhaustion and determination, with mom guilt creeping in whenever I chose studying over watching my favorite Netflix series "It's Okay Not to Be Okay." My youngest had spilled juice on my notes that morning, and my oldest kept interrupting my online lectures with urgent requests for help with his home economics project, the pillowcase he needed to sew. I'd been drowning in coursework while managing snack requests, settling sibling disputes, and fielding endless questions about everything except what I was studying.

That's when I stumbled upon Abraham Lincoln's motivational quote about personal resolution and success, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut after another sleepless night juggling assignments and bedtime stories. Something about those inspirational words made me pause, forcing me to remember why I'd decided to pursue higher education despite being a working mother and wife, considering my age. I glanced toward the living room where my boys were finally quiet, absorbed in their tablets, giving me this rare moment of silence for self-reflection.

The house bore the beautiful chaos of motherhood – crayons scattered beside my laptop, their cute paper inventions taped to the walls, Nintendo controllers resting on top of my research materials – yet here I was, still pursuing my dreams. The voice of self-doubt that whispered "you're being selfish" suddenly felt less convincing than it had moments before. My phone buzzed with another message from a friend asking why I'd been so distant lately, and for the first time, I felt okay about prioritizing my personal goals and mental health.

As I returned to my academic search, carefully moving aside a crayon drawing of our family, I realized that everyone else's journey didn't matter as much as my own determination and perseverance. My boys would see their mother fighting for something she believed in, even when it felt impossible. They'd learn that dreams don't have expiration dates, that it's never too late to chase what matters to you, regardless of life circumstances.

I smiled slightly, knowing that this moment of doubt was just another step forward in my personal growth journey, even if progress felt microscopic. Tomorrow would bring new challenges – more creative interruptions, more questions, more late nights – but tonight, I'd found something stronger than my fears. Lincoln's quote seemed to glow on my screen as I finally understood its truth: my own belief in this dream was indeed more important than anyone else's opinion, and that realization felt like the breakthrough I'd been desperately needing for success.