Finding the time and energy for your own career goals when you’re a parent or foster carer can feel impossible. With the constant demands of family life, your own needs often end up at the bottom of the pile. But thinking about your career isn’t selfish. When you feel fulfilled and are building a secure future, that positive energy benefits everyone at home. It is possible to get ahead at work without feeling like you’re failing at home, it just takes a bit of clever planning.
Have a Clear Plan
First, stop and think about what you actually want. Is this about getting a better job? Changing your career path completely? Or maybe you just feel out of touch with the latest developments in your industry. Knowing your endpoint makes it so much easier to figure out the first step. A full-blown degree might feel overwhelming, so break that big goal into smaller pieces. Look for a single training day or a short online course you can complete. These small wins build momentum.
A shared family calendar is essential. When you schedule your study periods, they become a non-negotiable part of the week’s rhythm, just like a school run or a medical appointment. This simple act of writing it down helps everyone in the family see when you need to focus and allows you to protect that time from the chaos of daily life.
Making Learning Fit Your Life
Thankfully, the days of being tied to a rigid college timetable are not your only choice. Modern education is incredibly flexible. You can find courses that are delivered entirely online, allowing you to work through materials whenever you have a quiet moment. This could be in the early morning before the house stirs, or late at night when everyone else is asleep.
Look for opportunities to learn in the gaps of your day. That commute on the train, the half-hour spent waiting to pick a child up from a club, or the time spent peeling vegetables for dinner can all be used. Instead of scrolling on your phone, you could listen to an industry podcast or an audiobook related to your field. These small pockets of learning add up, making consistent progress feel much more manageable than trying to find three uninterrupted hours, which for most parents is a rare luxury.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Trying to do everything yourself is a recipe for exhaustion. Your professional development is important, so treat it as such when you talk to others. Let your partner, friends, and wider family know what you are doing and why. More importantly, ask for specific support. It might be asking your partner to handle bath time twice a week so you can study, or asking a friend if they could take your child to the park for an hour on a Saturday. People are often happy to help if they know what is needed.
For foster carers working with agencies like Fostering People, your support network is even broader. Your supervising social worker and local support groups are there for you. These connections are a source of practical advice and emotional solidarity. Other carers will instantly appreciate the challenges you face and may have excellent tips or know of training grants available to you.
Pursuing your own ambitions while caring for children is not about finding a perfect, static solution, but about creating a workable rhythm. It demands planning, creativity in how you learn, and the willingness to lean on others. Your own growth and happiness are assets that enrich your whole family, making the effort a worthwhile investment for everyone.
