Hadn’t realised that Fred did the degree through the OU. I’m just rejigging now after moving etc. and this seems like the best option all round. Great to hear that he is going on to do another course - that’s commitment, and with a full time job too - definitely makes me feel that I’ll be able to fit it in.

Fred did a Maths OU honours degree taking six years whilst working full time. We jiggled everything about a bit and it worked. has he stopped studying now Innes is here? No chance - doing Accounting now through the OU.

Erin is beautiful and you have done a great job so far - don’t give up your dreams!!Susan

But, like you, I have dreams and ambitions of my own I want to pursue. It’s a tricky one to reconcile the two. Though, I must say, Beanie genuinely seems to enjoy her two days at nursery, which gives me a good section of time. But even now she’s settled there it can be a wrench to spend the time apart.

I don’t know what the answer is. The more time I spend with her, the more I enjoy being with her. But I don’t want to give up my dreams, not least because I don’t want her to feel pressured into living them out for me when she’s older. I feel constantly torn and don’t have any answers!

Good luck with the OU course. You owe it to yourself to give it a go - you have so much potential. I know you can make a success of it.

I must applaud you in your very grown up attitude. Pursuing your career goals in open university is an excellent choice, allowing you to gain the needed skills, while still caring for your home and child. Congratulations on your goals and well thought out methods.

I’m a mom of six, although mine are all grown now. I know all too well the difficulties involved with what you discuss here. Good luck with it!

I’m about to start my second level 2 course and am currently wading through a preliminary read of the set texts to make it easier when it ocmes to study them properly (I need to do this as otherwise I spend too much time struggling with the words when I’m meant to be laerning - it’s a Dyxie thing)

I had a good look at the course, it looks like I’m commiting to around 10-12 hours of study a week (to start), therefore I’ve been quite particular about what I’ve chosen to study, there NEEDS to be a high interest factor This ramps up to 16 hours next year (when Erin will be in playgroup and then nursery), I’ll also have time while Alex is on backshift - I guess it’s one of those things you can’t really be sure about until you’ve tried it. I’m trying to look on my monetary contribution as if it were a hobby, I’d have to pay for classes and equipment and I guess this is the same sort of thing - fingers crossed the blog will cover the overflow!!

I did a business degree at the University of Surrey and then started a psychology degree with the Open University. I completed two modules with the OU but then decided it was not the path I wanted to go down.

I found the Open University excellent, very professional and well organised. You would expect this from a university of course but in my experience they are not all like this. At Surrey the marking scheme was changed half way through the course which was quite infuriating. The lectures also striked on one occasion. That certainly never happened with the OU.

The OU’s course material was excellent. It is expensive as you say and it can take a lot longer to complete a degree course. I found it hard work and have to admit my degree at Surrey was a lot easier. It is also difficult studying a lone but I’ve completed a lot of distance learning courses and would definately recommend it.

As for the OU - read all the material so you know exactly what is involved, especially in terms of weekly study hours before you commit yourself. But based on my own experiences I’d definately say - go for it! A friend of the family did her law degree with the OU whilst a mother of 2 young children and is now a lawyer! It’s a lot of work but worth it if you are able to do it.