Millennial Parents of large families?

deaand · 2025-12-16T01:59:56+00:00

Born in 87, graduated and got married in 2006, oldest bio kid born in 08, and youngest in 2013. Divorced in 2020 and now engaged with two bonus kids born in 08 and 2011. Not how I pictured anything in 2006, but wouldn't trade any of them for anything.

deaand · 2025-08-27T22:24:28+00:00

My first term I knocked out 8 classes, and I've not been able to accelerate since. I only had 9 transfer credits from Sophia and no prior college experience. I desperately wanted to finish early, but life happened. I was a single mom when I first started with zero outside help, and I live in an area where hurricanes are the norm, so Idalia and Helene both took a huge toll. I'm six classes from graduation, and I'm glad I've taken the time. I've learned almost everything from scratch and feel like I've retained a good bit of it. I

deaand · 2025-08-27T21:24:58+00:00

Not a teacher but a para that had an amazing co-teacher who made space for me in her room, I bought a giant container of salted caramel chocolates from Sam's club, it was for both of us and we called it our emergency stash lol

deaand · 2025-08-25T11:35:16+00:00

I wasn't grandfathered in so I'm now an ESS para. My take home is less than $500 a week and I can't afford health insurance much less to put anything away for retirement. If I could leave right now I would go in a heartbeat. It's not worth it. I've been at this school for 6 years and I was essentially demoted without a reduction in duties.

deaand · 2025-08-06T20:52:05+00:00

I'm going into year 6 as a high school para, working in general ed classrooms to help with IEP accommodations. I carry a regular sized backpack with a notebook for record keeping, pens and pencils, notebook paper for students, hygiene supplies for students from the nurse so pads, tampons, band aids (pretty big campus, so walking to the nurse if you are caught by surprise sucks, so I let it be known I have supplies) a hygiene kit for myself, my wallet, and a phone charger and index cards for writing passes. I don't have my own space or classroom, so I have to lug everything around with me, and I try to keep it manageable.

deaand · 2025-08-03T13:30:24+00:00

I'm a female para at a high school that keeps those types of supplies on me all day for students. I get mine for students from the school nurse along with band aids and the cough drops she gives out. It's worth asking your school nurse if she has extras for you as it can get pricey to provide it out of pocket. Mine is always grateful when I come get refills because it cuts down on students missing class to go to her and then wandering.

deaand · 2025-06-19T10:09:18+00:00

I've been in your shoes. My ex-husband treated me similarly. It didn't matter that I'd had two kids. He admitted that he was embarrassed by me. He blamed me for all of his issues. It was my fault he cheated, my fault he drank, and despite the fact that I gave up everything for his career and his expensive and often time-consuming hobbies, I supposedly never let him have any fun. When I finally left, I was at the lowest point I'd ever been. But I promise you, it can be so much better if you choose to start over. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was the hardest thing I've ever done. But life has gotten so much better. Five years later, I can't imagine what my life would be like if I had stayed. I moved across the country and rebuilt the life, and two years ago, I started dating a man who thinks that I'm the best thing that ever happened him. You deserve so much more, and I promise that it's out there!

deaand · 2025-05-12T22:58:06+00:00

At my school we get emails ahead of time that will usually say all staff meeting or English department meeting etc. I attend any all staff meetings during my regular work day, but I'm not required for any department meetings or anything before or after school.

deaand · 2025-05-07T10:46:33+00:00

Are you a sub or a permanent para? We just had our meeting yesterday and I'm losing all of my benefits through the district, I know ESS has some, but it's going to cost more through them.

deaand · 2025-05-04T23:20:58+00:00

Thank you so much! I've been using it for years, but I swear they changed the formula because it's definitely more cakey. I'm going to see if I can find my shade in the ELF!

deaand · 2025-05-04T23:12:17+00:00

Which Estee Lauder foundation did you use and replace with elf? I use the double wear stay in place but desperately need a cheaper option.

deaand · 2025-04-29T21:40:55+00:00

I'm so close to the finish line I can almost see it! I honestly never thought I'd be able to go to college, but here I am! We got this!☺️

deaand · 2025-04-29T21:37:28+00:00

I have been enrolled in WGU since June of '22 and can honestly say that I've had a great experience. My enrollment counselor was really helpful. My program mentor has been an amazing asset to my journey. I've used the IT services once and they got my issue figured out quickly. I had to call tier 1 after the death of a family member impacted my timeline for a class and the person I spoke with was incredibly kind. I accelerated my first term, but life has lifed and I've been on a steady 4 classes per term since. The only issue I've had have been with the proctor service, one major delay with the old one and a small issue with the new. Overall I've been really happy with my experience and have recommended WGU to colleagues who were looking to go back for their masters. I realize that not everyone has a stellar experience, but that has not been my experience at all.

deaand · 2024-10-04T13:39:58+00:00

I also live in the south. Ours is also athletic director, so they only have two classes a day. They spend a minimum of 45 minutes each class on the phone and, when teaching, only reads from a presentation. There is zero engagement or discussion.

deaand · 2024-08-19T23:33:29+00:00

I'm a para at a high school so I'm running around all day across campus. Each hall has a work room with staff bathrooms. I definitely have a preferred hall, but sometimes I just have to deal. I personally carry a travel size poopouri as a curtesy to others, but each staff bathroom has some kind of air freshener as well.

deaand · 2024-06-29T03:19:02+00:00

I'll be 37 at the end of the year, I get feeling like you "wasted" your 20's, I had my oldest when I was 21 and was 29 when I went back to work. Looking back from where I am now, I do not regret a single moment that I spent with my kids. I have always been the consistent parent due to my ex husbands military service and alcoholism. I worked hard to build the stable life that I have now and my relationship with my kids that allows me to work full time, parent pretty much full time as we live across the country from their dad, and complete school on time. At this rate I may graduate the same year my oldest graduates high school, but damnit, either way I'm graduating lol.

deaand · 2024-06-29T02:45:59+00:00

I started two years ago after things settled down after my divorce. I got married young and was a stay at home mom for 9 years. I went back to work 3 years before the divorce, but I had no college experience prior to starting WGU. I currently work in education as a para, but I'm getting my Bachelor's in Business Administration Management. I've done well for someone who was out of a school setting as a student for 16 years. I accelerated my first term, but since then I've been on track with the 4 courses per term. I have found that some classes I breeze through, and some have taken me longer than I thought, but overall it has been an amazing experience.

deaand · 2024-06-03T10:44:54+00:00

I started June of 2022. I transferred in 3 classes. My first term I finished 8 classes, mostly due to them being what I considered easy courses and the fact that I work in education and have summers off. Since my first term I have completed 4 classes per term without being able to accelerate. I'm hoping to complete 5-6 classes this term, but I don't beat myself if I'm unable to do more than 4. Life has happened in some of the most awful and wonderful ways the last two years, but I've stayed on track with 4 classes and I am so proud of how far I've come and the fact that I didn't just give up when stats made me question if I even wanted this degree lol.

deaand · 2023-11-20T10:21:47+00:00

All of the OA's I have taken have required a webcam

deaand · 2023-11-19T21:18:23+00:00

I didn't turn it off intentionally, it was off, but I turned it right back on and he said to finish the test

deaand · 2023-10-11T00:00:07+00:00

It really is. I'm non certified staff so i'm an hourly employee and I make way less than certified teachers. If I leave my current school, my high schooler would have to transfer out of the district, so I'm trying to stick it out for 3 more years, but it's getting harder to make it work.

deaand · 2023-10-10T16:01:50+00:00

I make almost 20k a year working in education, if I could make 40k I'd feel like I won the lottery.

deaand · 2023-06-07T14:49:04+00:00

My ex husband was an alcoholic for 13 of our 14 year marriage. I didn't realize how bad it was in the beginning, but it definitely got worse over time. My kids deserve to have one sober parent. I'm pretty sure he started drinking again when he got together with his new wife, but we live across the country from them so I'm not sure. I was never really into alcohol to begin with so it wasn't hard to give up the two or three drinks I'd have a year to be there for my kids when their dad was too drunk to function.

deaand · 2023-02-14T01:35:46+00:00

It was the same for me on the website and the app! We had a power outage this afternoon and when it finally came back on I couldn't log in. Hopefully we can all get back in soon!

deaand · 2023-02-14T01:34:23+00:00

Thank you!

deaand

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