Being a mom is hard enough. It is hard enough to be a medical student. It’s hard enough to be both a medical student and a mother. It may seem impossible to do both, but this post by Laura Maria Martinez Ramirez, a mother and medical student at OMEF, offers some strategies for making the impossible possible. If you are struggling to find that kind of balance in life, take a look at this post!

Laura is my name. I am an anthropologist, and second-year medical student. I am also the mother to a six year-old son. Today I am here to help you balance motherhood and medical school.

It can be difficult to balance being a mom and a student in a demanding program. It can seem impossible at times, but I have learned over the years that it is possible.

You can manage the balance between motherhood and medical school. It is as easy as learning how to manage your time and finding tips and tricks for kids when you work and study from home.

Medical students. We all know that medical school is more challenging as we progress through the semesters. The faster we can learn how to manage our time, the better.

Scheduling is crucial

Each Sunday, I create a weekly schedule with each day seperated. You can either use a sheet of paper or a list to make a table. Each day I set a time when I will be awake, and then get ready for work. It’s important to get ready for work each morning by getting dressed and bathed as if I were going to university.

The most difficult tasks are the ones I choose to focus on in the first hour of my study time. For example, I might prioritize two hours of the day’s most difficult subject. This would be followed by two hours of a more familiar subject or one that is much easier. This keeps you motivated!

Engaging kids in different age groups

It’s great if your children can attend school during the week. That means they’re out of your hair for a set amount of time every day, and because they’re spending that time interacting with children of similar ages and developing new learning habits and skills, they tend to be more self-sustaining–more than a new baby, anyway! If you are unable to send your child to school or kindergarten due to a pandemic, you don’t have to worry. There are activities you can do at home for every age group to keep them interested.

Studying at home while breastfeeding a newborn

You can adapt your home study time to fit your baby’s sleeping schedule for newborns. Study times can be as long as two hours, with a half-hour break for feeding your baby or to rest.

Homeschooling with children aged 2 and up

You can search YouTube for activities by age if your child is over two years old. Then, choose a topic that interests you and let YouTube guide you to the right subject. The video can be viewed on a tablet or TV. It’s almost like having a virtual instructor at your home.

You can set up your study station near you and check in often to see how things are. If you are able to afford it, a babysitter can be a great help.

Homeschooling with school-aged children

You can communicate with your children, even if they are older, that you must study. If you are able to incorporate your children’s homework into your study time, that is great. It will also teach your child the importance and value of studying. Consider it an opportunity to model good behavior.