I am a SAHM, and I have been thinking about going back to work. Well, I could go back to what I was doing before kids. But, the work was very demanding with LONG hours. So, I don't really want to do that.

I have been volunteering once a week at my dks school library for the last few years, and I love it! So, I checked out what I have do to become a school media specialist(that is what they call the librarian here) Well, I would have to get my masters in library science. They do have a program at a university that is just 30 minutes from my home. I could do most of it online, with some real classes mixed in. I probably wouldn't start until next spring because the deadline for fall entry is in a few weeks, and I really want to think about it more before I do it. The big thing is I am 40 years old. Do you think I am too old to go to school, and start a brand new career? I will be 43 when I finish, if I start next spring. Do you think it would be hard to find a job for a 43 yr. old with no experience in that field?

I don't have to work from a financial point, and I like staying home. But, my kids are getting older, one will be 10 in a few weeks, and the other is almost 8. Lately, I just feel like I need something more. But, I want to make sure this is something I really want to do before I spend the money for school. Dh is on board either way. I just like this idea because I wouldn't be home late, and I would have school holidays and summers off. I really love being around the kids when I help at school.

So, what do you think? Crazy or not?

By Cat on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:25 am:

Debbie, you're not crazy at all! I'm 36 and getting the ball rolling on taking classes to get my early childhood education degree, with possibly going back for a master in early childhood special education. The thing is I *know* I'll never teach in a public school (too many issues there! lol), but there are private schools and administrative positions that would be available with that. I know I'll be probably mid 40's by the time I finish, but that's okay. Like my mom said, a lot of people go back to college after their kids are older and start careers in the 40's. I say go for it if it's what you really want to do. We can be older college students together!

By Reds9298 on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:44 am:

I don't think you're crazy at all! If you're interested in doing it I think you should for sure. I have a friend who was a teacher and decided that it was too demanding so she went back and got the library science degree you're talking about. She's been in the HS library ever since and absolutely loves it. She says it's pressure-free and it's exactly what she wanted. Good luck!

By Tayjar on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:09 pm:

Debbie - you'll turn 43 with or without that degree. I say go for it. My DS 2nd grade teacher decided to become a teacher in her late 30s. She is the best teacher because she is doing something she truly loves to do. She was worried about the age thing, too, but now says it was the best decision she ever made.

By Imamommyx4 on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 01:04 pm:

Go for it. What's 43 but a number? What are you going to do with the rest of your life? And why wait until next spring? When dh was 30, he lost his job at the end of July and was enrolled in college and started his engineering program 3 weeks later. It all worked.

By Karen~admin on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 01:10 pm:

NEVER too old for school. My friend Tami graduated from nursing school at age 40. I have a *mid-50s* nurse practitioner friend who is ALWAYS going back to school. Do it!!!!!!

By Debbie on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 01:14 pm:

Well, I did some more research, and I can actually go to the college that is 5 minutes from my house. They offer a library science masters for working in an education library. The only thing is Oklahoma requires a teaching certificate, so I have to take 28 hours to get that. And, then I can enter the program. This program is specialized for what I want to do though, and the campus is literally 5 minutes from my house! When I work in the library next week, I am going to talk to the media specialist about it. I have thought some about teaching also. So, I guess I could always do that too, since I would have my teaching certificate. My boys thought it was a great idea, especially since I will probably stick to elementary school, and they will be in middle school by the time I start!

Debbie, the reason why I was thinking of waiting until Spring is because with the other program, the deadline for Fall admissions is next week. I want to really think about it before I spend all the money for school.

By Tklinreston on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 01:20 pm:

ABSOLUTELY - GO FOR IT!!! And if I were you I would jump on it right away. You are still young and vibrant, and it sounds like the perfect job for you. Judging from you posting if you don't pursue it, three years from now, I believe you will end up really regetting it. Knowing you from this board, I think you would make a FANTASTIC librarian/school media specialist!

By Enchens on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 01:43 pm:

Another vote for Not Crazy, and another vote for Do It!

Debbie, when I was in college-ahem- there were a few people in my classes who were older. I remember one of them was a Grandmother who had nearly grown grandchildren. I thought she was one of the coolest people I had ever met, because she had gone ahead with the decision to go back to school. She was in my calculus class and she hung in there like the rest of us. Whenever I think about going back to school, I think of her and how much courage she had to go back and get more schooling. (I had med school planned in my future before I met dh).

So, yes, GO FOR IT! We are here to cheer you on whenever you need us.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 02:40 pm:

My mom quit college, got married to my dad and had 3 kids in rather quick succession. When I was 10, she went back to school, got her bachelor's degree and went right on for her Master's Degree, also in Library Science. She worked at a public library, a business college library and a college library. She loved her career and I don't think she ever regretted going back to school. During the 6 years, that she was going to school, my sisters and I got to spend a lot of quality time, with our dad, so mom could study. She was 31, when she started and would have been about 37 or so, when she was done.

Go for it, if that is what you want to do! If you already have the bachelor's degree, you are step ahead of my mom, when she started.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 03:27 pm:

My grandmother went back to school, and got her degree when she was past 60, and had great-grandchildren! She didn't change careers, but she wanted to be able to say she got her degree. Go for it!

By Rayelle on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 06:08 pm:

I say go for it!! I'm in school and I think I get more out of it being a "nontraditional" student! I started college looking at it as a means to an end but right now I'm also really enjoying it and making friends. My mil also went to college this semester and she is 53. She said even if she's too old to use her degree once she gets it at least she'll have it lol. I don't think being in your early to mid forties when you would be job hunting is such a bad thing either. I've heard it can be difficult for moms to go back to their field after staying home for a long time but in your case you'd be fresh out of school! You should also look into scholarships. There are some out there for women who have delayed there education to care for their families.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 06:42 pm:

Go for it by all means. As others have noted above, no matter what you do, in a few years you will be 43 - with or without the degree. Which would you prefer?

I like the idea of getting the teaching certificate too. Sadly, funding for libraries gets cut every year. Having the teaching certificate too gives you double-barrelled credentials and more options.

By Debbie on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 07:12 pm:

Ginny, I like the idea of the teaching certificate too. It will take me a bit longer, but I will have two things I can do. I like the media specialist job because you get to do the "fun" stuff with the kids, but since the teachers are usually with their students, you don't have to do as much discipline. I have always loved books, and reading, and I really love working with the kids. So, it seems like a great job for me. But, dh also brought up a good point, there is a much bigger need for teachers, then media specialists. So, if I can't find a job doing that, I can teach, until what I want comes along.

By Wandilu on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:36 pm:

Debbie, one of the elementary teachers at one of our local schools taught her first year of school the year that she turned 50 !!! She said she had always wanted to teach school, so when her children were grown, she went back to school and STARTED her career at age 5o !! By all means , go for it