Foster carer and O.U. study how do you do it?

Hi

Well done you for studying and caring for two little ones - no mean feat on either count! And it's great that you're enjoying it so far. There's an OU parents group on Platform which you might find helpful, many students have to juggle their studies around demanding children, which isn't always easy so the members of this group may have some tips for you.

Keep up the good work!

 Hi

I am on my 3rd year of studying with OU .My son is disabled and has lots of appointments in Great Ormond Street and loads of other hospitals and clinics . I have a bag that I chuck my current book ,calculator and paper in .So whilst stuck in waiting rooms or if i get 5 minutes then I can have a look . If not 10 o clock at night is the only quiet time i get and when my brain starts working . I have struggled and failed my last exam .I pick myself up and try again. I think its a really good example to my kids because if mummy has to sit quietly at the table to do her homework so do they . 

good luck , it isnt easy but it is so important to have something of your own .Also buy decent coffee its worth its weight in gold when shattered doing the school run

Hi,my youngest son is 23 and has severe autism and learning disabilities. He does have support for part of the week,but his care is a constant thing. Like you I have loved reading the course work of the books,but it is hard to get to tutorials or catch up with what is happening on the forums. I think you are doing a brilliant job,and can understand it is  difficult to find the time and mental energy! As Joanna says,its trying to seize any chance to read even just one page,and I often read and work through the activities in bed. I've found it quite helpful too to keep the assignment question in mind when reading through the particular chapter and marking any part that might be useful,even if its just a quote or relevant sentence.And yes,good coffee helps too.Good wishes to you. 

Hello

I'm not currently caring for anyone, but I have been a professional carer in the past, so I know how hard caring as a job can be, and I've seen at first hand the strain people caring for their relatives can be under. So respect to you for being a carer and trying to study at the same time!

Professional carers are advised that it's important for them to have adequate recreation, hobbies, etc. to compensate for the stresses they can be under in their job, otherwise the job can get to be too much for them. Something similar probably applies to you. Apart from that, you have a right to your own life, to do things that are just for you as well as caring for others, so you just go on enjoying your OU study!

As for advice on how to study, sorry, I can't offer much more than encouragement, but I can say that (1) for the sake of your motivation it's better  to look back on what you've already achieved rather than forward at the distance you still have to travel, and (2) "little and often" does work. Grab just an hour or two a day for study, and over time you'll get a lot done without neglecting your caring responsibilities. Also, you could try a strategy I've used for foreign language learning, which is "always use dead time". That means getting out your textbook and reading it on the bus or train, listening to study material on an iPod while shopping, etc. I don't know how transferable this would be to your situation, but there might be several hours in your week just waiting for you to turn them to advantage.

Best of luck with your module!

thanks to everyone who replied, ive found an extra 45mins a day just waiting for kids to come out of school and my tutor has been great. Starting to catch up by the little an often approach plus everything looks better when the sun shines except for the house in much need of a spring clean!

 Hi

I also care for 2 little ones, used to foster until I ended up in a wheelchair due to MS. I am now looking after my grandchildren full time (my daughter has Aspergers and ended up with an abusive partner who eventually broke the 5 year old's arm when he was just 11 months old) and doing a maths degree via OU. The children are now 4 and 5 and the 5 year old is autistic.

I understand what you are going through, it's tough and time consuming but at times funny and loving and that's just trying to take care of the little ones. :)

There are times I just put my head in my hands and wonder how I can possibly carry on, yet somehow as carers we just get up the next day and keep going. That is all we can do - good enough is just that and I bet you are more than good enough.

I write notes, highlight, use different coloured pens directly into all my course books so I can take them with me when I have 'waiting' times. I sofa surf my notes, generally manage to get some done before nodding off! Fortunately I now have 1 at pre-school and 1 at school and I have to strictly block out that time to allow me to do my coursework and assignments.Holidays are an issue.

OU has been so supportive, I had to ask for extra time for a recent assignment. They were wonderful, no hassle. Ask for help from OU if you need it.

I tried a few years ago to do a course but failed miserably as I was completely overwhelmed with life and studying and could not keep up. I took an openings course last year mainly to fine tune my study methods and it worked.

If you are struggling speak to your tutor, I tend to use email as I find it takes less time than a phone call and sometimes an extra 20 minutes needs to be spent on rest or study.

Most importantly of all - look after yourself, you are worth more than you will ever realise to those that care about you.  :)

On the good days we can cope it's those awful exhausting bad days when you need to take extra care to be good to yourself......hugs :)