Back to School?
Argh. Geoff went to check the mail this afternoon, and I had a letter from the University of Victoria containing their upcoming course list.I graduated with my BA from the University of Winnipeg in Spring 2002, with a virtually useless major in English and minor in Theatre. I had a lot of fun and gained all kinds of life experience, but realized I'd be virtually unemployable unless I continued my studies somehow. I'd already begun work on my Education degree there with full intentions of becoming a high school English teacher (and did three years of student teaching toward that), but I knew by then that I wanted to work in advertising more than I wanted to teach. It came down to a desire to actually do the writing myself instead of teaching teenagers how to write. Very noble, just not for me (at least not at that point in my life). And so, I enrolled in the Public Relations Management program at the University of Victoria - a program that was offered entirely online and could be completed on a totally casual, part-time basis. It was a perfect solution for someone who already had a job in the industry but wanted to do something extra to ensure her career would be viable in the long-term.
Fast forward to today... Since 2002, I've completed six courses out of the ten required for the program. The last one I took was in 2005, when I'd advanced enough in my career that I was working almost infinite hours and felt like crying over the mere suggestion of taking a course on top of that. I don't *need* to finish, but I want to - and it's always been in the back of my head, I just haven't felt any kind of pull to go back. And I hadn't really given it serious thought until I received the letter today. Some quick calculations showed that I could take one course in January, two in May, and one in September - and graduate by next Christmas. I'd only have a few weeks where my final course would overlap with my return to work next fall. And the very best part about these courses? They're all project-based, which means no exams and an even distribution of work throughout the term (read: very low-stress and mommy-friendly).
The schedule is actually kind of perfect, and I know the courses are totally manageable. I read the course descriptions and looked up the required textbooks - and I started to get kind of excited... It would feel awesome to finish and graduate. And I'd just been lamenting to Geoff earlier today that, while I love being Briony's mom, I kind of miss using my brain. The only real catch is that - with my rather pathetic excuse for mat leave salary - I would need to let Geoff pay for my courses (which he has already offered to do). And that's a tough pill for this girl to swallow after so many years of taking care of myself. I'm a little worried that some of the awesomeness I would feel about graduating would be lost because I didn't really do it on my own.
Am I being ridiculous? Or are those legitimate feelings? I can't really tell anymore with all these extra hormones flowing through my body. Anyway. Lots for me to think about :)
Labels: Back to School, The Boy
posted by Lindsay @ 4:18 PM
9 Comments:
What a great idea to keep your brain active and work at your own pace. As for Geoff paying for it: once you become a couple, the finances are joined along with most everything else. So you, together, are paying for it. He will benefit with having a wife-whose-brain-is-stimulated:)
PS..you should feel totally awesome and independent scholastically because you are the one doing all of the work for the course.
I completely agree with your very smart mother-in-law ;) Also, my argument for taking these courses and finishing your program is that you will potentially be able to make more money with more education, right? It'll look great in a resume, should need one in the future ;) Just sayin'
I think it's an awesome idea but unfortunately when I looked into it (in 2001), I couldn't collect mat leave and take courses at the same time. Grr...I still get furious.
I have my fingers crossed that it's changed by now so you can do it. Incidentally I chose to take courses rather than fight for my pathetic mat leave money.
Thanks, Moms :)
Tannis - That's just crazy and ridiculous enough that it sounds like a rule the government would make up... I'm going to check into that ASAP. Thanks for the heads up!
I've been taking courses and was on maternity leave with Malakai. No problemo. At least I haven't got that dreaded letter from the government yet! LOL!
Lindsay,
You and Geoff are a team, and although you "only get pathetic maternity leave", you do a whole lot of valuable stuff at home (you just don't get paid for it in $$). As a stay-at-home mom (almost 8 years!), I have wrestled with this issue many times. What it boils down to is that Geoff would probably LOVE to pay for your courses. His reward? He gets to come home to a happy, fulfilled wife.
It's part of being a team. Don't rob him of the satisfaction of keeping your brain stimulated.
There, that was my 2 cents. :) Now, make the decision based on what your heart tells you to do.
That's great news Melanie!
You do what works for you. I'm 7 months in and am still totally revved at my current life status. In fact, the only thing that keeps me up at night is trying to figure out how to continue my current life status (ie - NOT go back to work!). If this would rev you up, then go for it!
Though I hear you on the money. Kris made this month's payment on the edge - a vehicle we bought because my little Escort wouldn't tote around a baby, car seat AND stroller - and it drove me nuts. I know it's our family-vehicle, but still. It's in my name and I was once able to go to school AND make car payments. Then again, I was potty trained by university so I never had to budget in so many diapers... ;)
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