Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or you are trying to balance work and family life, if you truly want to get your education, this is the time to do it. In today’s economy, having a degree can give you an edge in finding a good paying job, to begin the career you’ve always longed for, or to simply keep the job you have now.

Many women want an education, but feel that they don’t have the time or money. I understand this dilemma. I have a six year-old girl and a three year-old boy, and I never thought I would be able to obtain a degree, especially because I dropped out of high school in 1994. But now, I have my Associate in Arts and my Bachelor of Science degrees, and I will complete my Master of Science in Psychology degree this year. That is three degrees in three years! How could I have done this, with so many other things going on in my life? The answer is online education.

For the most part, moms cannot make any more commitments than they already have with work and family. Many parents I have spoken with feel they are a juggling act that could come crashing down, with one wrong move, because they are barely hanging on as it is. What's more, how can we make it to class at a certain time, place, and location? Our kids get sick, we have to work overtime, and there are after school activities. Just considering attending a brick and mortar, traditional institution seems like a joke to most of us.

If you want to go back to school, first consider what your motivation is, and then hang on to that. Maybe you want to make more money, just want the personal satisfaction a degree allows you, or to be a positive role model in your child’s life. Next, set goals. Set short-term goals such as “I want to finish my first class in eight weeks.” Then, set a long-term goal. For instance “I plan to complete my Associate Degree in a year and a half.” Then make a plan and follow through.

If you can, start at a community college. They have smaller classes and you may receive more support, compared to a four-year university. Find one that has frequent start dates, to allow you more flexibility, to take classes when it is convenient for you. In addition, community college is also drastically less expensive than a university. Many community colleges will also allow students to accelerate the course work to enable you to get through school faster. After being an online learner at several community colleges in the AZ valley, I found the most flexibility and support from one locally. I found that my wonderful experience with this school gave me an excellent foundation for the rest of my education and life.

There are also many four-year institutions that offer online classes to pursue your Bachelor degree. I chose to attend a private university that offered online classes because I found much more flexibility, that traditional state colleges lacked, and the tuition was comparable as well. When you are looking for an online university to obtain your bachelor degree, be sure to check how long the classes are (ex. 6, 8, or 14 weeks). When classes are condensed into eight weeks, as an example, although more intense, this allows the student to speed up your entire education. It is also important to make sure that the online university is accredited by a higher learning accreditation organization. This means that they are a reputable school that has gone through inspections to ensure they offer high quality education.

What do you need to do next? Search for a community college or university on the internet that offers online classes, flexible start dates, and accelerated classes. Then, call or visit the school and talk to an academic advisor, who can help you make a plan to meet your educational goals. After that, it is important to discuss your financial options with the financial aid office. They can walk you through the steps of obtaining financial aid, which can be confusing. Afterward, get registered for classes, order books online, and start your first class!

Just remember to set goals, stay organized, and remain focused on what motivates you to go to school, and you will be a success! The journey of education can be difficult at times, especially for moms. But, if you keep in mind how much a degree can improve the lives of your family, you can do it. Never give up. One of my favorite motivating quotes is by Sydney J. Harris, who said: “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”

Bio: Dawn is an aspiring freelance writer and has published a book called The Online Education Handbook: Advice to Get You Started and to Finish FAST. She lives in Fountain Hills, AZ with her husband of 11 years, Brian, and their two children. She is currently working on her Master of Science in General Psychology at the University of Phoenix (online), and plans to begin her doctorate work in Clinical Psychology in 2010.