My experiences as a working parent learner
The inspiration for this entire hub springs directly from my current research: a professional doctorate in education (EdD) where I’m focusing on the experiences of working parent learners in higher education. The rationale for this stems directly from my own shared past and current experience as a working parent learner.
My journey
My own learning journey has certainly not been straightforward. After receiving offers to attend university in September 2000, I discovered in August, shortly after my 18th birthday, that I was pregnant. This was an understandable shock, and I chose to defer my place at university for a year. My amazing baby girl arrived in May 2001. After a few life-changing months, I took a part-time job to help with nursery fees and started university as a parent to a three-month-old. I took my daughter with me into the city centre, dropped her at childcare and attended lectures, then I would go straight to pick her up, drive home, and continue studying at night while she slept. I completed my degree, and began looking for a career.
However…
Interviewers for graduate schemes questioned my childcare arrangements and my commitment, or required a move to London, which was out of the question. So, I started work in a local office, working as an office manager for 7 years until I couldn’t stand it anymore. After my third child was born, I handed in my notice and found part time work in a local bar and restaurant.
This decision led me back to education to pursue a teaching career following encouragement by the bar manager Lauren, who was about to complete her teacher training – Lauren, if you are ever reading this by some chance, thank you, you changed my life and my children’s life so much! I retrained as an FE/HE tutor and since then I have worked on Access to HE, apprenticeships, and degree courses but I have never stopped studying alongside working and parenting my four children. I’ve since achieved three master’s degrees and I’m currently in the third year studying for a doctorate.
My research
Through interviews and journaling with numerous working parent learners in my research, certain themes came up again and again. It was clear that balancing studying with a job, raising and caring for children from new-borns right through to teenagers, and managing all the tasks involved in running a family home – from daily chores to planning celebrations and holidays – felt like a constant tightrope walk. One phrase echoed powerfully throughout all these discussions: “Time management.” While we all know that time, in reality, often manages us, this resource was born from a desire to acknowledge these challenges head-on.
I have genuine compassion for adult learners because I’ve experienced first-hand the immense dedication and resilience it takes to pursue higher education amidst life’s many demands. This website is a collaborative venture. It’s here to offer inspiration, share success stories, and, most importantly, to collate practical techniques and tips for time management that busy adult learners can genuinely try out.
I truly want this resource to grow with your input. If you’re a working parent studying in HE, or if you simply resonate with these challenges, I invite you to make contact. Share your story, your unique experiences, the strategies that work for you, and any advice you have for others. Together, we can build a stronger, more supportive community for adult learners.
Share your story
I truly want this resource to grow with your input. If you’re a working parent studying in HE, or if you simply resonate with these challenges, I invite you to make contact. Share your story, your unique experiences, the strategies that work for you, and any advice you have for others. Together, we can build a stronger, more supportive community for adult learners.
