Things only student parents will understand
You fully understand the word ‘multitasking’
Separately, being a parent and being a college student are two hugely demanding undertakings in one’s life. Trying to take on both at the same time ranges from demanding to outright bonkers.
Balancing homework and finals with the never-ending demands of children is challenging at best, and student parents find ourselves facing some unexpected realities.
It’s easier to do homework at the bar than at home
Think you can’t write a paper while someone is blasting Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” off-key at a karaoke bar? That it’s impossible to focus when everyone around you is toasting to life while you’re only three pages into 400 pages of reading?
Student parents know that’s nothing compared to trying to meet a deadline amid the sounds of fart noises (real or otherwise), frightening screams over the end of the world (also real or otherwise), or constant demands for food, butt wipes, or your iPad password. Relatively speaking, the bar is as peaceful as a summer breeze.
Study break…?
You’re going to miss out
This goes both ways: If you have an important due date for school, you’re probably going to miss your kid’s kindergarten assembly, even though you really, really were excited to see them on stage in that bumblebee costume. On the other hand, you might get docked for inadvertently turning in an assignment covered in crayon. Sometimes those due dates just have to be flexible.
Luckily, Berkeley professors are generally understanding if you miss class your child’s birthday, or turn in a late paper due to to a sudden case of pink eye (in fact, they’ll probably insist on it).
Your kids will probably get an early college education
Babysitter canceled at the last minute? Kid’s school holidays don’t line up with Berkeley’s? You just might have to pack up a suitcase full of coloring books, crayons, and an iPad stocked with movies and bring the kid to lecture with you. Hopefully, no issues with fart noises, frightening screams, or butt wipes will arise until class is over.
Who knows, your child might even learn something in the process!
We take pictures here periodically
Sleep is a finite resource
One night, you’re pulling an all-nighter to cram for that midterm you meant to start studying for weeks ago. The next, you’re pulled from bed because your pint-sized roommate is scared, or lost a tooth, or running a fever.
You might finally get to bed at a decent hour, only to be awoken before dawn by an early riser who is ready for breakfast, or having a fit because they can’t find the right LEGO piece for a creation that could be anything from a garbage truck to a volcano.
Dinosaur fossils at the Bioscience & Natural Resources Library!
You get to share an experience of a lifetime
Let’s face it, getting to go to Berkeley is a huge accomplishment that comes with an abundance of exciting opportunities. They will see your excitement over seeing amazing teachers. They will watch you panic over assignments and exams, then see your relief and pride when it turns out better than expected. It will show them exactly how hard you have to work and meet your goals and the rewards that come with meeting them. You get to be their inspiration.