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Jasmine Johnson
English 101
25 March 2019
What does it take to show mothers how important their education is in molding the future
of nations? In our patriarchal society, the idea of mothers pursuing academic studies while caring
for a child is generally frowned upon, because it is perceived as a violation of the traditional
motherhood role. While college can be hard on everyone, moms face a particular challenge.
Merging motherhood and studying without compromising the activities of either one is a great
dilemma for student mothers which inflicts unpleasant emotional pressure and guilt and
interferes with academic performance and the overall journey of motherhood. Being aware of
those challenges is the first step towards dealing with them. Student mothers can stay optimistic
knowing that they can still bond with their children by spending quality time with them.
Meditation techniques can help student mothers relieve their stress and stay focused on the
significance of their academic journey as the most practical means for the pursuit of a better life
The challenges student mothers face can threaten education and create barriers to
employment. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, young women who
give birth while attending a community college are 65 percent less likely to complete their
degree than women who do not have children during that time. However it is important to
recognize the growing importance of student parents to continue and finish their studies. Since
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college graduates earn wages 56% higher than those of high school graduates, according to
recent data from the Economic Policy Institute, a college education is, therefore, an
indispensable asset to get out of poverty, especially as the demand for a more educated
workforce accelerates.
skills and cognitive flexibility. The French statesman and military leader, Napoléon Bonaparte,
seems to acknowledge the role of mothers and the huge impact they have on shaping the
ideology of the future generations of nations when he states, “Give me an educated mother, I
shall promise you the birth of a civilized, educated nation.” An educated mother is capable of
leading her family and therefore her education is beneficial not only to her but to her family as
Society can be harsh and continues to expect women to have a predisposition towards
raising and nurturing children over anything else especially under the influence of the findings of
continuous studies that link the presence of a parent at home to children’s academic
performance. While this claim may present itself as a valid argument, the National Education
Association's research has proven that parent involvement in schools makes a difference in a
child's academic performance regardless of whether or not the mother is a stay-home. In fact,
even stay-at-home moms are spending too much time with their kids with no scientifically
proven difference in the outcomes of their children’s academic performance. A Highland Spring
study of 10,000 families revealed parents are only spending 34 uninterrupted minutes a day with
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their children because of the stresses of daily life. It is the quality of time spent with the kids that
According to my sister, Haneen, who had her daughter, Luna, when she was still in
college, out of the numerous challenges college mothers face in pursuing their academic
endeavours while caring for a child at the same time, feeling of guilt seems to take the heaviest
toll. Feeling guilty for leaving a child at the daycare or even with a family member and agonizing
when missing a child’s big game or stage performance is when a parent starts feeling
overwhelmed and their efforts are usually thwarted by this feeling of guilt. My sister managed to
attend all her classes before Luna showed up, her performance was remarkably outstanding.
After she had her baby, she started skipping classes and missing assignments. When she noticed
regression in her academic performance, she quickly connected the dots and realized that she
isn’t really helping her daughter by mismanaging her time and by giving in to her emotions. She
wanted to set a good example for her daughter so she took the necessary action to continue her
Children need high-quality time with parents and caregivers, that is what is most
beneficial to children and what can produce a positive effect in shaping their personality. It isn’t
about endless hours of time, it’s about how a parent chooses to spend that time that truly matters.
Student mothers can still have a daily “connect” time with their children. A good way to do so is
to study with their children and read them bedtime stories, engaging in fun activities of the
child’s choosing over weekends without the distraction of gadgets and giving the children the
chance to choose the destination of the next family vacation or camping trip is a way to make
them feel involved and spend quality time with the kids.
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Meditation can also help, student mothers should be able to constantly remind themselves
of the big picture, and focus firmly on the initial incentives that made them choose to get an
education in the first place, this way they are less prone to allow their emotions to hold them in
campus every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00PM to 5:00PM. One form of meditation, the
integrative body-mind training has been shown to improve attention, reduce stress and change
integrative body-mind training group. “The results indicated that short-term (30 min per day for
7 days) improved creativity performance on the divergent thinking task, and enhanced emotional
Applying the aforementioned practices, my sister was able to earn her master's degree
and is now a professor at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. Her daughter, who is at
the top of her class, is so proud of her mom and sometimes comes to visit her at the University
Despite the many societal and emotional challenges student mothers face, they should
make their journey enjoyable by spending quality time with their children and maintain balance
through meditation and continue to believe in their ability to make a better future for them and
for their children and that, in turn, will contribute to the common good.
Works Cited
Bedfordshire,
England.
uobrep.openrepository.com/uobrep/bitstream/10547/134972/1/visick.pdf
doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-10-9.
ncsl.org/research/health/teen-pregnancy-affects-graduation-rates-postcard.aspx