[Ajaz0810]

So I had a daughter born Monday morning. She is the most beautiful thing in the world. However, she cries all night. My wife has 3 months off and I have the rest of the week off. I’m sure people have gone through this and passed the exam while going through this. I told my wife I would be able to help with the baby from when I get home from work till 12pm. Then I need my sleep. I was thinking I would be able to get in 2 hours of study time from when I get home to 12pm and at least 4 to 5 hours on days off but I’m not sure. This is hard on her she needs my help. I go into battle with FAR on January 21st so I’ve got a little under 6 weeks. Just curious on what’s worked for anyone else? I think I read somewhere where Jeff has 6 kids so Jeff if you’re reading this how did you do this with kids, especially newborns?

Thank you

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[PJJW90810]

Hi Ajaz0810,

I am mother with 3 kids all under 4 years old and working about 30 hours a week. I started my CPA journey in July and I am trying to pass all four parts this year to avoid the extra education credits now needed in California. I was 6 months pregnant when I started studying for my first section which was FAR. My work schedule was from 1pm to about 7pm. Fortunately, I had my husbands full support and so we worked out a schedule that he would watch our two young boys at night. However, being a mother I couldn't just ignore them when I got home at 7pm and so I would hang out with them for a bit. Here was my studying schedule for 6 weeks preparing for FAR. I was using Becker btw. I would start studying at about 10pm till about 2am or 3am daily except for weekends and those days where you just couldn't do it. I would first watch lecture on a section then read the chapter then do MCQs/SIMS. I was able to knock out at least one cycle of studying (lecture,read,then MCQs/SIMS) if not two or three depending how long each sub chapter was. I was able to knock out 2 chapters a week. I gave myself 1 week to review and here's how I reviewed. Sticking to our agreed schedule during the weekdays and asked that he watch the boys the whole day on the sat/sun before my test which was on Monday. I reread the whole book but this time after every major chapter I would stop and do the progression tests that Becker offers which is basically comprehensive MCQs. This took me about 5 days to do. Then on Sat I did the two final reviews. Finally on Sunday I reworked SIMS and did random MCQs. I did this for my next section AUD which again had only 6 weeks to study. Fortunately for REG which I took in the last testing window I had about 2 months to studying so I didn't study daily.

This last section BEC was a bit trickier because I gave birth on Oct 22 so the schedule that worked for me with the previous 3 sections wasn't gonna happen. My husband did the best he could to help but I am nursing so she was pretty much stuck to me. All I asked him to do was watch out two boys which he did. My schedule for BEC was pretty much when she slept I studied even if it meant studying at 4 in the morning. Newborns sleep a lot but just in 3-4 hour intervals so there is definitely opportunities to study. Then when she would be awake I would pop on some Becker audio or do MCQs on my iPhone. I probably got 4-5 hours of sleep but you gotta sacrifice and it all should be worth it at the end. I probably got a solid 3 weeks of studying for BEC. I guess my advice would be to study when your wife is on baby duty and when you are try to the little things like audio or something. It is definitely doable you just have to find ways. GOOD LUCK!!!

I took the test on dec 6 so well see what happens. Sorry I wrote a novel but I just to share and hopefully give you some encouragement.

FAR: 77 (08/07/13)
AUD: 78 (08/29/13)
REG: 76 (11/07/13)
BEC: 79 (12/06/13)
Ethics: 98%

Application sent 12/31/13

Used Becker Self-Study

[PJJW90810]

Hi Ajaz0810,

I am mother with 3 kids all under 4 years old and working about 30 hours a week. I started my CPA journey in July and I am trying to pass all four parts this year to avoid the extra education credits now needed in California. I was 6 months pregnant when I started studying for my first section which was FAR. My work schedule was from 1pm to about 7pm. Fortunately, I had my husbands full support and so we worked out a schedule that he would watch our two young boys at night. However, being a mother I couldn't just ignore them when I got home at 7pm and so I would hang out with them for a bit. Here was my studying schedule for 6 weeks preparing for FAR. I was using Becker btw. I would start studying at about 10pm till about 2am or 3am daily except for weekends and those days where you just couldn't do it. I would first watch lecture on a section then read the chapter then do MCQs/SIMS. I was able to knock out at least one cycle of studying (lecture,read,then MCQs/SIMS) if not two or three depending how long each sub chapter was. I was able to knock out 2 chapters a week. I gave myself 1 week to review and here's how I reviewed. Sticking to our agreed schedule during the weekdays and asked that he watch the boys the whole day on the sat/sun before my test which was on Monday. I reread the whole book but this time after every major chapter I would stop and do the progression tests that Becker offers which is basically comprehensive MCQs. This took me about 5 days to do. Then on Sat I did the two final reviews. Finally on Sunday I reworked SIMS and did random MCQs. I did this for my next section AUD which again had only 6 weeks to study. Fortunately for REG which I took in the last testing window I had about 2 months to studying so I didn't study daily.

This last section BEC was a bit trickier because I gave birth on Oct 22 so the schedule that worked for me with the previous 3 sections wasn't gonna happen. My husband did the best he could to help but I am nursing so she was pretty much stuck to me. All I asked him to do was watch out two boys which he did. My schedule for BEC was pretty much when she slept I studied even if it meant studying at 4 in the morning. Newborns sleep a lot but just in 3-4 hour intervals so there is definitely opportunities to study. Then when she would be awake I would pop on some Becker audio or do MCQs on my iPhone. I probably got 4-5 hours of sleep but you gotta sacrifice and it all should be worth it at the end. I probably got a solid 3 weeks of studying for BEC. I guess my advice would be to study when your wife is on baby duty and when you are try to the little things like audio or something. It is definitely doable you just have to find ways. GOOD LUCK!!!

I took the test on dec 6 so well see what happens. Sorry I wrote a novel but I just to share and hopefully give you some encouragement.

FAR: 77 (08/07/13)
AUD: 78 (08/29/13)
REG: 76 (11/07/13)
BEC: 79 (12/06/13)
Ethics: 98%

Application sent 12/31/13

Used Becker Self-Study

[mla1169]

I'm a mom of 2. Congratulations on your new daughter.

IMHO for the first 2 weeks (the week you're home plus the week you go back to work) ignore the CPA and studying entirely. Your lovely wife will never need your undivided attention and support more than she does right now.

After those 2 weeks find creative ways to combine your support with studying. Listen to the audio while you're walking the baby back and forth to sooth her to sleep. Listen to audio while folding laundry. Take baby for a ride in the car (sooths a lot of babies!) and listen to audio.

And get some rest yourself!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

I'm a mom of 2. Congratulations on your new daughter.

IMHO for the first 2 weeks (the week you're home plus the week you go back to work) ignore the CPA and studying entirely. Your lovely wife will never need your undivided attention and support more than she does right now.

After those 2 weeks find creative ways to combine your support with studying. Listen to the audio while you're walking the baby back and forth to sooth her to sleep. Listen to audio while folding laundry. Take baby for a ride in the car (sooths a lot of babies!) and listen to audio.

And get some rest yourself!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[JMOR]

I have a 10 month old and she was born during tax season which I work about 70-75 hrs a week during. After returning to work it was really hard for a while. My wife had two surgeries when our baby was about a week old, so I can totally understand your situation, what I can tell you is that you and your wife will eventually find a system that works for both of you. Having a new baby requires a lot of trial and error, but it will smooth out and you will soon find your time to study. Hang in there it will get easier to get things done, I promise. Help out where you can and make time to study, good luck!!

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[JMOR]

I have a 10 month old and she was born during tax season which I work about 70-75 hrs a week during. After returning to work it was really hard for a while. My wife had two surgeries when our baby was about a week old, so I can totally understand your situation, what I can tell you is that you and your wife will eventually find a system that works for both of you. Having a new baby requires a lot of trial and error, but it will smooth out and you will soon find your time to study. Hang in there it will get easier to get things done, I promise. Help out where you can and make time to study, good luck!!

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[jlondon]

Hi PJJW,

You are amazing.. need to really learn from you.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

Hi PJJW,

You are amazing.. need to really learn from you.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jeff]

Congrats on the baby!

I had 3 kids while I was studying, but my situation is a bit different.

For one, our kids have never been bottle fed, so I'm off the hook there.

Second, we decided early on that we would be a one income family and my wife would stay at home – just a decision that we made.

The #1 thing you can do is prioritize your time, which this will force you to do.

When you have 15 minutes to kill, it's FAR (not facebook 🙂

I hope this is helpful.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[jeff]

Congrats on the baby!

I had 3 kids while I was studying, but my situation is a bit different.

For one, our kids have never been bottle fed, so I'm off the hook there.

Second, we decided early on that we would be a one income family and my wife would stay at home – just a decision that we made.

The #1 thing you can do is prioritize your time, which this will force you to do.

When you have 15 minutes to kill, it's FAR (not facebook 🙂

I hope this is helpful.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[jlondon]

Hi Jeff, Yes seriously.. I'm going to disconnect my fb right now. It's causing too many problems..

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

Hi Jeff, Yes seriously.. I'm going to disconnect my fb right now. It's causing too many problems..

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[PJJW90810]

Hi jlondon,

Thanks and trust me there were some sleepless nights but I was determined. My family is my motivation. Good luck to you on your CPA journey.

FAR: 77 (08/07/13)
AUD: 78 (08/29/13)
REG: 76 (11/07/13)
BEC: 79 (12/06/13)
Ethics: 98%

Application sent 12/31/13

Used Becker Self-Study

[PJJW90810]

Hi jlondon,

Thanks and trust me there were some sleepless nights but I was determined. My family is my motivation. Good luck to you on your CPA journey.

FAR: 77 (08/07/13)
AUD: 78 (08/29/13)
REG: 76 (11/07/13)
BEC: 79 (12/06/13)
Ethics: 98%

Application sent 12/31/13

Used Becker Self-Study

[makeitstop]

Ajaz,

I have two daughters as well. One was born right in the middle of my studies. I had 2 exams done. My wife wanted me to pass so she allowed me to study as much as possible. I had to cut everything out of my life except work and my wife and kids. I'm a huge football fan and didn't watch more than 5 games all fall before I passed. I believe the exam is more about what you are willing to give up to get it done. You can do it.

[Author]

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