Last week I got the opportunity to speak to two amazing women who are both currently pursuing their degree and raising children. Hearing their stories resonated with me and it sort of drove me to speak to another amazing woman I know (if not the most amazing to me). That lady would be my mother Natasha Grant. My mother, a resilient parent of two, who also works at UWI, supported me without complaint throughout my entire life. Something to note about her. My mother has both her Bachelor’s and her Master’s degree. Coincidentally, both times she attempted these feats, she was pregnant with my sister and me. (Considering this, she’s currently on a studying ban). After listening to these ladies, knowing that she went through the same situation not once, but twice encouraged me to find out more about her experience being a mother and a student at the same time.
While I asked her to tell me about her experience on being both a mother and a student, she seemed to focus more on the motherly aspect first. According to her, being a new mother was exciting and even moved her to tears. As she had always wanted a boy first, “being able to see and hold something you were a part of” meant the world to her. However, while she admits being a student and a mother at the same time was difficult, she never saw it as a hindrance. To her, having a child was a sort of motivator. It gave her the encouragement to strive for better. “It made me keep going,” she says, “Because then it would have showed my son that anything is possible and you can overcome everything.”
Reflecting on her own issues, she couldn’t help but think about those currently pursuing such a heavy task. This leads me to ask her if she believes it’s harder now for mothers to both care for their child and attend school. As a mother, she had to deal with hectic schedules, exams and a child all while maintaining a stable social life but she believes she had strong support systems which helped her along the way. Now, however, she thinks that young mothers have it harder due to the fact that they have to deal with all this, and more while lacking some form of strong support. Although this may be the case, she strongly believes there’s hope for these mothers and that they will see their way. In closing she said, “Have a plan. When I say this, I mean know what you’re getting into and know where you can turn to for support. Make sure and be prepared for a child. It’s not easy, but it’s been done before and it can be done again.”
I don’t know about everyone else, but after reading I have even more respect for all mothers. And for those mothers out there currently pursuing their degree, take it from someone who’s managed to do it already. Just keep yourself motivated and you’ll be able to achieve great things for both your child and yourself. If you have anything you’d like to add, please post it in the comments below. I’d love to hear you thoughts.
WOW!: Women of Worth 