[Broag]

As the title says, I have a newborn at home. Really just want to spend all my time with the little guy, but know I have to continue my studies once tax season is over. I’m kind of dreading it. Any parents out there who’ve experienced a similar situation where they feel bad for studying or knew they would have trouble getting motivated to study while trying to raise a newborn?

Thanks

P.S. I’m studying for my retake for REG with Becker materials. Probably will be purchasing Ninja MCQ. Also, I haven’t passed a section of the exam yet, so I’m not on a super strict time crunch.

REG - 79
FAR - ?
AUD - ?
BEC - ?

[Last Chance CPA]

Are you a mom or a dad? I am a dad, and I have studied for and failed REG 3 times in the first 9 months of my baby girl's life (passed BEC in that time). I think it's naturally a little easier for a dad to deal with having to study, rather than spend time with the baby. My wife is in law school and she definitely feels guilty. I love my baby, but I think the CPA exam actually gives me some sanity…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Broag]

I'm a dad. I work full-time, too. I guess it's best to try to pass these exams before they get to pre-school/kindergarten and their schedules start to fill up. Guilt has started to seep in a bit even before I've started to study. If you work full-time, how did you schedule around spending time with your baby girl? How many hours during the weekdays/ends?

REG - 79
FAR - ?
AUD - ?
BEC - ?

[Lillian]

I understand what you are saying completely. I have an 8 year old and was in school working towards my Associates and Bachelors degrees when he was born. I can remember being so focused on school that I don't even remember some of the critical moments of his life and I feel horrible. Flash forward, I now have a 7month old and seeing him grow each day, knowing that I didn't slow down to smell the roses with my first child, I'm a little beside myself. I keep telling myself that it is short term and I look forward to the day where I can start college funds and be in a position to better prepare them for their futures. On the other hand, my oldest son got to see me graduate for each degree (except my Masters because I didn't walk). He remembers the day we went to the Bojangles coliseum in Charlotte when I graduated with my Bachelors of Science. Now he is always talking about going to college at the University of Phoenix. Also, now that he is in the 3rd grade, he has to start taking the End of Course standardized tests, and he's seeing the importance of studying and getting good grades. The good thing about the infant stage is they won't remember that mom and dad were busting their butts to make a better living for them. I suppose the flip side to it is, we as parents, have to endure the time missed….we can't have it both ways :-). Rest assured, the many conversations to come and the bond that will be developed later will outweigh the fact that you couldn't be there to see your child roll over off the bed because he or she is learning how to crawl (you know, the crucial years when a child is first born). I celebrated with my oldest son when he brought home a good report card after all of our hard work and dedication for the semester…it was as if I'd seen him take his first steps all over again. Celebrate the moments that you can and when you are spending quality time, spend quality time…no phone, minimum distractions, etc. These are things that I am learning along the way. You will appreciate it in the long run, it's only temporary 🙂 🙂

On my way to a CPA

[Gabe]

Dad here with a 3 year old and 5 month old. I find getting up really early to study to be the best option (which isn't easy because the 5 month old still does not sleep through the night…). Anyway, my plan is:

530a-730a study

work (study during lunch)

5-7/8pm spend time with kids

8-9/10p study (sometimes only for an hour, sometimes I'll have my wife quiz me)

On the weekends:

5a-9a study

10a-12 soccer with 3 yr old

12-2 try to study if they nap (which has not been happening lately lol)

Sunday

5am go on a run

7am-12pm study

Then spend the rest of the day with family.

Oh! Friday night is no studying…spend time with my wife and kids- do family night kind of thing.

Hope this helps and congrats on the new baby!

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[CM]

I started my CPA journey when I was pregnant of my now 1 year old son. It has not been easy, and I haven't passed a section of the exam either. In addition, I also take care of my 4 year old nephew and grandparents. However, I blame my failures to my lack of commitment to the exams. It wasn't until last month when I realized that I have to force myself to study even if I'm dead tired. What I do now is that I dedicate 2 to 3 hours to my son every day (5:30pm to 8:30pm), which is when I get to play with him and put him to bed (this is aside from getting him ready for daycare). I also dedicate the entire Saturday for him and my husband. Then my husband takes care of him on Sundays and other days that I'm studying. The last two months have been difficult because he has been sick on and off. It's not easy, but if others can do it, so we can.

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[Broag]

@Gabe

Thanks! He's pretty awesome. Can't wait to take him fishing someday! I'm not a real morning person, but your schedule seems to be the best course of action at the moment. After busy season, I think I may use this as a blueprint.

@Carolina

Kudos to you for taking care of your other family members. If you can do that, then I'm sure you will pass. Best of luck to you.

REG - 79
FAR - ?
AUD - ?
BEC - ?

[Anonymous]

I didn't feel like my newborn needed much interaction at that age, you could just hold him and study i guess? Utilize a sling if you have it. I wish I started studying while my son was a little baby. Now he is a toddler and needs much more attention => more guilt. I realized though there is always gonna be some cause for mom/dad guilt, I might as well study

[shanek327]

Tough one. We just had our first, he's 15 days old today and I'm studying for Audit.

Sounds funny, but I sit him next to me as i study and I talk things out to him, I talk to him about audit concepts as if he's another audit student.

He stares at me the whole time clueless of course, but it helps me grip the material better.

And who knows, maybe he'll pass first try

FAR - 75
AUD - 78
BEC - 82
REG - 77

2 Corinthians 5:21

Our value does not come from our skills and abilities, as good as they may be; it does not come from our GPA, our job, a promotion from that job to a better job, our success on the CPA exam, or anything of the like; but our value comes from the fact that we have a Creator who loves us, cares for us, and desires to help us navigate the rough waters of this life in a way that provides security, hope, and true, everlasting joy while we anticipate the life to come, with Him.

[Gabe]

@Broag I wasn't a morning person either…sucking it up for another month and hopefully I will be done 🙂

@anj I agree. Toddlers give the worst guilt trips. e.g. “My daddy, don't study. Stay with me!” (sigh)

@shane I do the same thing! Even to my toddler, sometimes he'll say something funny and it'll help me remember some random concept ha

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[Anonymous]

Gabe, I guess it's good my son isn't talking yet, something like this would break my heart!

[Broag]

@shane

That's hilarious. I'm going to have to try that.

REG - 79
FAR - ?
AUD - ?
BEC - ?

[Twinmomcpa]

I know exactly how you feel! I just had twins last year and had failed FAR 3x before I had them. I finally past when they were 4 months old. I've since passed BEC the first time, thanks to NINJA!!! Now studying for audit.

It's really hard to work all day then pick then up and feel guilty for playing with them and then to feel guilty studying. I keep telling myself to just study hard for 2 months straight to try to pass the first time, then take a month off if I do to spend time with my girls.

As parents we have to just remind ourself that we are bettering ourself by becoming a CPA. By bettering ourself, we are a great example to our children.

[Last Chance CPA]

@Broag – I agree with others. Newborns, and all they way to now (almost 10 months), don't require too much attention since they don't move around much. My baby crawls now, but we have a gate up.

I work from home a lot so I have an advantage of studying during the day when she is at day care. And on the weekends, my wife and I basically study all day until dinner time.

Honestly, I think now is a better time. I can't imagine tackling this beast when I was in my 20s. There was too much fun to be had, too much beer to drink, too much immaturity. So keep a positive attitude, know that you are doing it for your baby, and enjoy the ride. It truly is the “journey” more than the “destination”…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[CM]

LOL, I thought I was the only one driving my baby crazy with this FAR and BEC stuff. My sister told me once that my son is either going to love accounting or hate it. He has been listening to Jeff audio since he was in my belly. Poor baby 🙁

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[ChristieF]

I have a 7 yr old and a just turned 2 yr old. Last year when I was studying (and failed) I was too focused on the fact that I felt guilty I was studying and not spending 100% of my time with them. Now, I get up early to study, study at work, and then study once they're in bed. Being mommy and studying is hard (half the time they want mommy and will not go to my husband) I have been known to study on the couch, or in their bed with them asleep in my lap, or on my shoulder. My 7 year old likes to do her homework with me while I study. Definitely easier with them being younger and not being able to crawl, etc. yet, but you find time for your kids and your studies, you just have to be disciplined. I talk through stuff with my daughter and just looks at me like I'm crazy (she's 7), but at least she doesn't tell me to stop talking. She just says she's gonna end up in accounting like mommy if I keep talking.

Good luck!! Congrats on the new baby. Enjoy the cuddles.

[Author]

Replies