Student mom, a complex adventure

Being a mother and a student is quite a program! Because if parenthood is an adventure in itself, with its share of time-consuming challenges, leading a student life can quickly create a stressful situation. With or without a companion, many mothers in studies meet regularly dropping out. So how can you best organize yourself to succeed in your studies while taking care of your child? Whether you are in high school or in higher education, there are reflexes to adopt to make your daily life as easy as possible, but also help to alleviate constraints. We take stock with Florence Cornu, director of the PEP75 sector and manager of SAMELY (the support service for high school mothers), and with Marine, a young student mother. 

Some figures on student moms

According to a report by the Observatory of Student Life published in 2016, in France, 1 in 20 students is a mom. If this figure is very low compared to other European countries, this is explained in particular by the lower number of women resuming studies in France than abroad. As for the impact of motherhood on studies, it unfortunately often seems to be a reason for dropping out, which can be seen in the figures: student mothers are 18% less likely than female students without children to reach the end of their term. studies. It should also be noted that these data concern higher education and do not take into account mothers still in high school, where the situation can prove to be even more difficult to manage. 

How to organize: a heavy mental load for young mothers to bear

Reconciling studies and raising a child is not necessarily easy! And when the baby is sick (which often happens, especially in the early years …), it becomes impossible to go to class, or even to do his “homework” to give to teachers. The period for exams and exams is always very difficult. Of course, moms who live as a couple will have an easier time than moms who are alone with their babies, as all student moms can attest to. A situation described by Marine, student and mother: “The main challenge I had to overcome as a student mother, it’s time management. During the exam period, I took advantage of each nap of my daughter to start studying. It was very stressful and very tiring, ”says Marine. Having a child means having to give it a lot of time and energy, and the risk of being scattered is great, emphasizes Florence Cornu: “There will be the whole question of childcare, managing all possible help, but also to discover all the platforms like that of the CAF, which is not nothing! In the long term, the situation can become more complicated when the child starts to walk and run, the monitoring will have to be permanent ”.  

Student life: not easy when you’re already a mom!

The regret that emerges the most from the statements of student mothers is the difficulty to participate in festive moments… With a baby, outings, weekends and breaks between students will necessarily be fewer. A situation that is not specific to female students, working mothers also go out less often in the first months following the birth of their baby… “Indeed, I did not go out very much during my first year of Master when my daughter came into the world. . But because of my studies in the field of culture, I was able to go out to cultural events and I was able to attend an evening with my classmates! “, Relativizes Marine.

Mom and student: freeing yourself from the judgment of others

When you’re a student and you’re a mom, or you’re pregnant, The look of the others can be experienced as a judgment, which can destabilize. “I had some thoughts from some professors when I applied for a Master’s degree. They automatically thought that I couldn’t complete the course because I was going to be a mother. There can be a discriminating feeling, ”says Marine. Rest assured, some students manage very well to reconcile their pregnancy, then the arrival of their baby, with their course. It is above all a question of organization.

What maternity leave for student mothers?

There is no such thing as maternity leave in academia, because in any case, you will have to take the courses and exams. On the other hand, do not hesitate to turn to your teachers and to the services of your university. Depending on your due date, and you may be able to get distance learning courses, or even the postponement of certain exams.

Aid for student mothers: CROUS and RSA

If pregnancy and motherhood become difficult to combine with your studies, know that there is different aids to make your life easier. First of all, know that as a couple or not, you are eligible for RSA. You will need to apply to the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales. The amount of the RSA varies according to your personal situation (as a couple or alone), the number and the age of your children. So, if you are pregnant with your first child, the RSA will be 725,96 euros if you are alone, and 848,01 euros if you are in a relationship. After the birth of your child, the RSA will be 967,95 euros if you are alone and 1 017,61 euros if you are in a relationship.

There is also emergency aid from the CROUS, for young parents. This can be one-off or annual. The first can be requested in particular if your situation changes during the academic year. Once your situation has been assessed by the social worker, you can receive this assistance, which can be at most of 1 687 euros. Depending on the case, this can be paid several months in the year, with a total maximum of 3 374 euros.

Regarding the annual aid, the student mother must apply to her academy. The aid paid can go from 1 to 020 euros for the year.

You can also apply for emergency accommodation if you encounter any difficulties in this regard. 

Help: contact your General Council

In addition to the CROUS and the RSA, there is aid specific to each department in particular, child welfare allowance. This will be calculated according to your situation. Do not hesitate to contact the General Council of your department.

Are we entitled to a priority place in a crèche?

Baby is here! You must now find a childcare, in order to resume your lessons. Regarding the care of your child, there are nurseries set up by different universities in France. Do not hesitate to check with your campus to find out if it has one. Do not hesitate to talk to your teachers, who can help you: “My teachers were very understanding. I gave birth between the first and the second semester, and I was able to follow all distance learning courses and have practical work arranged, ”says Marine.  

Student mom: how to look after her child?

Childcare is a crucial subject when you are a student and a mother. If your schedule allows it, you may want to consider putting your child in drop-in daycare. Unlike traditional nurseries, drop-in centers take care of children during shorter time slots. Reception can take place a few hours or even a few half-days per week. There are public and private ones. A good solution if you manage to group your study schedules over a few half-days.

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Schoolgirl and mom, how to be helped?

Each year in France, around 4 500 young women minors give birth to a child. Among them, 500 are under 15 years old. These “teenage mothers” often experience their pregnancies in isolation, sometimes cut off from their families. From structures exist to help them throughout their pregnancy and to support them in the early stages of their life with their children. “High school mothers experience great difficulties, due to their young age and an often precarious situation. You should know that in France, when the mother is a minor, one in two children is placed in Social Assistance for Children (ASE) in its first four years, which is a very important figure, ”warns Florence Cornu. In order to help these very young mothers as much as possible, the SAMELY (Support service for high school mothers) was created in Ile-de-France. It is a specific structure that helps pregnant high school students or mothers. “We help mothers for two years after birth, in two ways. First, we can look after their children during exam periods, in order to lighten their mental load. Then, we organize Parenthood stays, where mothers can talk to each other, consult a psychologist. We also offer Health and Child Workshops. Moms can also spend informal time with their babies ”. 

This device is currently only present in Ile-de-France. For the other regions, there are other dedicated organizations: “There is of course Maternelle and Infantile Protection (PMI), present in each department. High school moms can also contact the school nurse, which will help them to have the right information and will direct them to the structures that will help them. From Forums also exist for student and high school moms, to break the isolation and free speech.