Cold Cold Feet

Aww, why am I suddenly getting cold feet about applying? Is anyone else going through this? I have wanted this for such a long time, but now the time has come I am getting wary am I making a terrible mistake. I think the problem is that I have worked for the Council for 18 yrs (Ive got a real cushy job, good money and sooo flexible around my family life). My job has fitted in so well with hubby and my 3 kids and the problem ive got is giving all this up, including my pension which is fab. But will keep stressing, midwifery is all I think about too. The job situation also worries me! Someone please talk me out of this dilemna that is going round my mind. I do know that the job I have at the mo just doesnt compete with a wonderful career in midwifery, but am really scared to leave my comfort zone I guess

MezzyT - I know exactly what you mean. I work 3 days a week at the mo (for the NHS for the last 7 years) and it means I can spend 2 full days a week with my littlest (17 months) and pick up my 5 year old from school on those days as well. The thought of hardly seeing them during the week, not hearing their news from them, shifts, god knows what... it's not nice! But, like you, I can't stop thinking about midwifery and I'm going to get my application in no matter what.

I think your kids (and mine) will be happier with a happy mummy who has followed her heart and is doing what she really wants to do. Someone said to me as I was agonising over the whole thing a few months ago that in years to come the kids wouldn't even remember - the whole university thing would be like a blip to them. And, most importantly I think for you is that adage that you're more likely to regret what you haven't done than what you have. You've just got to go for it. I think it's kind of like falling in love(!) and at this stage you owe it to yourself and your family to follow your heart.

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Question everything. Always.

Yes I do see what you mean. My children are older than yours, 16, 12 and 10, so bit older and they WILL remember the Uni thing, thats the problem. I think in some ways, it is harder with older children cos their too old to go to day clubs in the holidays, but too young to leave on their own (At least the 2 younger ones are anyway). Also my eldest will be doing A. levels and I am worried that I wont be able to have much input into what she is doing. Its not just that, a job I love is hard to leave also, even though it is cushy it can be quite boring also (lots of admin stuff). My boss is so flexible tho, when the kids are ill etc etc, its a lot to give up. Aww I am moaning alot arent I? doesnt sound like my heart is in midwifery, but quite the opposite, I have spent the past 3 yrs doing lots, to hopefully get an interview. If I think about the school hol thing too with the kids, I get panicky, thinking how will I manage, like I say, they dont want to do kids clubs at their age. I havent got much family support either. Hubby has to be out of the house by 8 every morning and no other family to help!!

I keep getting cold feet too. I just gave birth to my 4th child, so he'll only be a year old when I start school next year (My others are 3, 5 and 7). My husband hasa flexible working schedule, though so I'm fortunate.

I think the greatest cause of my cold feet is the lifestyle change. I've always worked regular hours on set days each week. The on-call shifts will be a huge change. Even so, I just know that midwifery is for me. I've spent the past two years studying on my own to be better prepared and I just can't wait til I have the priviledge of attending my very first birth as a student midwife. That's what I try to focus on when my feet are the coldest.

MezzyT - I see your point. I've also got a (nearly) 16 year-old who starts his A Level courses this year but will take 3 years to do them so if I start in 2009 I will be there for his last 2 years of A Levels. For him I think actually it will be quite good - I'm already trying to influence him positively with my good study habits and we discuss essay writing etc! I think you may be right about the 12 and 10 year olds though - that will be tough. We also have no family support but hubby's job is reasonably flexible and I think they will support him well through my years of uni! How old are you? Can you afford to wait a couple more years till your youngest hits that independent teen stage? There's quite a few of us on here well into our forties who will still have a good 15-20 years of midwifery practice in front of us when we qualify......

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Question everything. Always.

I say go for it - you don't actually have to make a descision until you've been offered a place. You children are the perfect age for you to be inspiring them by following your dream at this stage.... There are some uni's that do the course over 4 years giving you the holidays off - I don't know where you live - but this may also be something worth checking out....

Why not sit down with the whole family and have a real good chat about it? It would be helpful for you to know how they all felt about this, and might help you make a decision? I would hope that they would be keen to support you, and help you through the transition as much as they can! Whatever you decide, it's not absolute - as MsWroe said, maybe now is just not quite right for you xxx

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I will be exactly the same as you when I get around to applying. Worried sick ect. It's your dream though. When your in a secure position with job ect what you are feeling is normal.x

I really do understand how you are feeling..... this degree is going to be HARD WORK!! but i really believe that if its meant to be it will be.... and your dreams are there for achieving....
I am a single mum to a 24 month old and have just finished the access course after a year of loads of stress and hard hard work.... but it was sooo worth it!! I start uni on Monday and although i know the road ahead is going to be a tough one im excited about the challenges i face and just keep thinking..... im going to have my dream job and make my little boy proud!!
If you want it enough you can do it!!!
Believe in yourself!!!
Good luck!

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Student Midwife.... yay!

I think I am too old to wait any longer. Ive waited 2 yrs now since I completed my access course in 2006, so really I feel its now or never!! I am going to be 44 the end of this year, so I dont feel that time is quite on my side. I know age doesnt matter, but if I wait any longer, will be on my way to 50, the access course only has a 3 yr life span for Uni, and also in reply to Norman's question about the 4 yr degree programme, the Uni's I am applying to only do the 3 yr course and due to my circumstances, have to apply near to where I live. I suppose where there's a will there's a way, but the ages of my 2 boys do worry me. I suppose I'm gonna have to send em screaming and kicking to school holiday clubs