This week I have decided to talk about how school is influencing my life. This is not the first time I have attended college. I have a separate associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. I finished this degree within my first year of marriage, and so my husband and I lived in separate towns during the first year we were married. I am not going to say it was easy, but it was much easier to be away and focus on all of my academics. I didn’t have any distractions so I was able to get all of my homework done in a timely manner, and I did well on most all of my assignments. This time around is a little different. When I started this degree I had been out of school for about five years, married for just over six, and I have two young children. I have a four year old boy who will be turning five in May, and starting school in August. I also have a 23 month old boy that will be turning two here soon in the end of March. I would have to say I have a few more distractions than I ever thought of having before. I have my husband and the only time we get to spend together is in the evening that is, when he isn’t gone on trips for work. So when he is home it is hard to choose sometimes whether to have him watch the kids and I get time alone to work on class work, or spend time with him and my boys. School has been a challenge at times. I am a stay at home mom, and so my evenings have become my time for school. This is a change for me because I am not much of a night person; I have always functioned much better in the mornings. I am more alert, ready to go, and my brain functions smoother. I have started to adjust to this change, but it is taking time. School has been a good influence for me though. I have been making myself get more organized. I have to know what is due, and when to have it done by. I have succeeded in turning my assignments in and taking tests on time by knowing what is going on a week in advance. School has made me become more relaxed too. I have learned that if my house isn’t 100% clean it is ok, and it will get done at some point. I also learned that if my kids take up my time, they come first, and I need to attend to what they need. School has been good for me. I am learning in more than just one area of my life.