How about being a good mother and a CPA at the same time?

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    Topic
  • #199026
    rosecpa
    Participant

    I always wonder how people do it!

    Ok, so the guys could go to work the entire day and come home to read their newspaper or hideout. We woman, who have children to raise can’t do that.

    For those of you out there who have done it- please share your secrets.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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  • #751958
    hellencpa
    Participant

    No doubt, it is hard. It needs determination and committment. 2 yrs back I passes 3 and lost credit due to new full time job and having babies. And now I passed 2 out of 4 so far. Still with full time job and 2 kids under 3….what is working for me is, previous study and synchronizing my kids nap time of 2 hrs and waking up 1.30hrs early. But still a chapter takes me a week. Finally, I figured it out that it doesnt get easier once you are a mom, so here I am getting ready for my 3rd exam. But it can be done

    #751959
    CPAlife04
    Participant

    I mostly study when my children are sleep. I can sneak in a few MCQs on the weekend while they play with dad. When I need to focus on studying new material, I leave the house on the weekends early morning and return a few hours later.

    It definitely takes more dedication, but because I have small children my study time is treated more valuable then when I went at this without children.

    Audit: 11/28/15 (72) April 2016
    Regulation: 2016
    Financial: 2016
    Business: 2016
    NINJA

    "The CPA exam is not a test of my ability, it is a test of my will. I have the will!"

    #751960
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Its hard, I am fortunate that my kids are 10, 14 and 17, so they can essentially survive without me. So, with that, I don't really cook dinners, we eat out a lot or eat quick easy meals. My youngest had to take a year off of baseball and they spend some weekend days with grandparents so I can go into the office and study.

    I study at the kitchen table, so they eat by me, study for school there with me and are “allowed” to chit chat with me. Usually around 9 pm, they have to go to their room and let me study without interruption. I sit in the car at my daughters gym and study for 2.5 hours three days of the week. You have to utilize every possible moment as efficiently as possible and learn to function on less than 8 hours of sleep.

    Recruit help, its almost impossible without it. And I've learned sometimes you have to get away from the house/kids to have good quality study time.

    #751961
    Vanessachy
    Participant

    I am postponing pregnancy because of the CPA exam. I cannot imagine how hard it is for any women.

    Far, 64 82
    Reg, 60 86
    Aud, 74 82
    Bec, 70 81
    Done done done! I did it!!!
    Licensed CPA in MA, issued October 2016

    Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
    Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
    Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
    Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

    #751962
    leglock
    Participant

    funny and sad at the same time

    #751963
    MaLoTu
    Participant

    I am so nervous to start work in September. I have 2 boys who are 8 and 10 (will be 9 and 11 by the time I work). I am praying that I am able to finish the exams before I start working, I figure that will alleviate a little of the stress.

    I think the key to managing kids and a career is to have a strong support system (or at least I hope it is). My parents live within walking distance of my house and so far that has been a life saver! My husband has a job that has extremely variable hours, so it is going to be fun to figure out our new lives come September … I am going into public audit, so my schedule will vary as well.

    And I think it is important to not make yourself feel guilty about what you cannot do … sometimes you are going to have to get take out or the dishes might not get done, oh well =)

    Almost always from my phone... please excuse my typos!

    All 4 passed - 2016

    CA CPA

    #751964
    Tncincy
    Participant

    Mine are adults, and I still don't know. I started my business when they were little. I am taking the CPA exam because I need to change, and perhaps take my life back. Its about me and my husband, not quit retirement age, but need more money so here I am trying to realize my life long dream. I've always wanted to be a CPA and here is my chance. I have not passed any parts yet, attempted reg 2, far 1…..got my masters in 2011. I believe it can be done, but what I am realizing is transitions in life are what they are. My children are 24,23,21, and 19. They are ALL home from college, plenty of noise, need my attention. But like I said, It's time to take my life back. Yes, it can be done.

    It begins with a 75
    Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

    It begins with a 75
    Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

    #751965
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Being a good father and a CPA at the same time is also not easy. What is this reading a newspaper and hiding out that you speak of? 🙂

    When I was still studying I would go in about an hour earlier than work to normal since my kids were usually asleep anyway by the time I left for work. During my lunch hour I would squeeze in about 20-30 minutes of MCQ.

    When I got home from work I would spend time with the kids / help with dinner / help with bedtime until they were asleep (around 8PM). Then from about 8PM – 10PM I would get in my prime CPA study time. It sucked not having much time to unwind before it was time to get to bed.

    That was my standard schedule Mon – Thu. Friday evenings I would take off completely, Saturday's I would study half day (usually in the mornings) and Sundays were a complete break.

    During this time I had a 3-year old and a 1-year old. It takes a lot of hard work and even more sacrifice than normal to be a good parent and also pass the CPA exam.

    #751966
    Missy
    Participant

    You need to train your spouse that reading the newspaper or hiding out is for AFTER parenting duties are done. Its not negotiable.

    But aside from that working single mothers do it all the time. So it can be done if you allow your husband not to participate. However that wouldn't fly in my home.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #751967
    mommyof3texans
    Participant

    I will be the first to admit that this journey required an exceptional amount of support from my husband. He stepped up and really took over a huge percentage of the household duties so I could study. The payoff was not having to re-take any of the exams and being done in just under a year. Needless to say… he is relieved to have help once again with everything!

    BEC - 02/21/15 - 82
    FAR - 05/29/15 - 82
    AUD - 07/09/15 - 93
    REG - 11/14/15 - 80

    All done!!!

    #751968
    Gatorbates
    Participant

    I'm rather offended by this (and hate political correctness, so that should show you something). My wife works as well. I work M-F 8-6. Wife works T, Th 11am-9pm, and Sat 8-5. So two nights a week, after a long day, I feed, bathe, and tuck in the kids (that's where the reading part comes in. No newspapers here. Only Dr Seuss and Sponge Bob). So after a long week which included the two solo daddy duties nights, I watch them solo for 9 hours on Saturdays. They are 8 and 5 so they demand attention 100% of the time. And I had this same schedule during the 2 years I studied. I would study on M & W nights, and then 11 hours on Sundays.

    Not trying to say “woe is me”. I love my kids, but men bust ass, too. Don't generalize, it makes you look like an ignorant misandrist.

    Licensed Florida CPA:
    B: 71, 73, 79
    A: 83
    R: 78 (expired), 77
    F: 74, 74, 80

    It's finally freaking over.

    #751969
    rosecpa
    Participant

    Gatorbates, I didnt mean to offend any men who assist in family duties. The premise for my question is the fact that most of the primary caretakers (of children) in this world are woman. You are right for sharing the burden, but not every dad steps up to the plate.
    Which lead me back to my original question: beyond the exams, once a mom is working full time how can she take care of her kids?
    I'd love to hear from this who are already doing it.

    #751970
    Gatorbates
    Participant

    Nannies. Day Care. In-Laws. After school sports leagues. Friends. Plenty of after school activities that provide transportation for the kids. Oh, and there's also stay at home dads who “assist”.

    Licensed Florida CPA:
    B: 71, 73, 79
    A: 83
    R: 78 (expired), 77
    F: 74, 74, 80

    It's finally freaking over.

    #751971
    Missy
    Participant

    This is how you rock being a mom with a full time job outside the home.

    5:30AM, get up quick shower, feed animals (four legged ones)
    6:am wake children. This will likely take 45 minutes and end up with yelling.
    6:30am put a roast in crockpot and a load of towels in wash (you must forget about the towels for four days and need to rewash them.
    7am toss kids cereal bars, its the breakfast of champions and load in car
    7:10-7:30 drop kids off at respective schools.
    8am work
    9:30am sneak out of work to parent teacher conference, be accused of not making your kids do homework
    10a, back to work until 6pm
    6:30 arrive home, realize you never turned on the crockpot, raw ecoli laden roast goes in trash
    6:45 stop at McDonalds on way to run kid 2 to cheerleading
    7-9 try christmas shopping while kid 2 is at practice, don't find a single thing, theres always tomorrow……
    9pm fight with kid 2 about the homework you never ask them to do according to the school, proceed directly to fight about showering and bedtime.
    10pm wash dishes (ironic, since nobody ate supper at home.) feed 4 legged animals again, check emails and snail mail, realize dog left a “gift” since nobody else can think to let him out, decide to steam carpet in living room.
    10:45 post some complete BS on facebook about what a great day you had.
    11pm suddenly that nasty bottle of wine the neigbors gave you as a housewarming gift is appealing.
    5:30am wake on couch in the same clothes you wore to work the day before, wondering if its necessary to change 🙂

    Pretty much rinse and repeat for 18 years and you're good.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #751972
    Tncincy
    Participant

    I love it…..I think you forgot while sneaking out to the parent conference, made a deposit to the wrong account which is supposed to pay the internet bill, which wasn't paid so it is off when you get home and the bank can't correct the mistake until in the a.m so no money, no internet, and no homework :-/…….awesome…..women

    It begins with a 75
    Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

    It begins with a 75
    Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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