Like most people, I harbored prejudices about online learning. I thought it would be a breeze, I'll school the kids during the day and at night I'll do my schoolwork. Well, this way of thinking is probably ideal, but from reality. Online learning is just like going to school, but without the set class times or driving to campus.
I remember when classes began; I was under the impression that I could decide how much time I would devote to each class. But the reality was that the classes dictated the level of time I needed to be successful. I guess like on campus classes, some online courses were easier, but most of them were extremely time consuming. My images of schooling my children during the day and peacefully completing schoolwork at night were far from the reality of daily postings, numerous assignments and readings after readings.
And to be honest, there were areas of my life that suffered. First off, extended family functions became impossible. Most of my weekends were spent reading and doing papers. So picnics, birthdays and parties were non-existent. And in a sense, my children suffered too. I had little time to commit to their friends parties or get involved in play practices. I was a "drop-off parent" for the most part.
My friendships also suffered. My closest friends are still with me, but the ones that required more time and dedication were lost.
In reality, I believe that if you add something to your life that takes a considerable amount of time, you will need to take that time away from something else. I was hoping that it would not impact my children or my husband to greatly, but I know that sometimes it did. Just to let you know, the online commitment it is not all a bed of roses.