No one expects a parent to be Superman when it comes to juggling work, school and home responsibilities, and students who have fought through what they call “madness” say there is an end in sight.

Former Wichita State student Kary Pierce did it. Her college experience consisted of three children and one on-the-way. By the time she graduated last May, Pierce had four children.

“Class time was not as hard as homework time,” she said. “My husband had to watch the kids for evening classes.  My mom would drive my son to preschool.  Two of my kids were in school, so I planned around bus pick-up. The last year I had to hire daycare.”

Pierce said her crazy schedule forced her to drive back and forth to up her kids and go to class, but she said returning to school made the experience worthwhile.

“Going back to school as an older adult has made me more eager to learn,” she said. “I appreciated the knowledge much more and wonder why I thought it was so hard when I was 20.”

Michelle Dreiling took care of her son while attending WSU’s Elliott School of Communication for graduate school. She recently graduated with a master’s degree in communications.

“The most challenging part of having a child while going to school was devoting my full attention to what I was doing at that moment,” she said. “If I was in class, I needed to be fully engaged. When I was at home with my son, I wanted to give him all of my attention.”

Dreiling worked as a graduate assistant and said it was much easier than having an off-campus job on top of school. Her teachers provided resources to help her while she was teaching classes.

“There were also many occasions when I would have a spur-of-the-moment meeting or task to do on campus and [my son] would come with me to the Elliott School,” she said. “Deborah (Ballard-Reisch) had a box of toys in her office and Jessica (Bertapelle) would give him candy, and I would do my work. You just do what you’ve got to do when you’re a parent.”

Both women said they have no regrets, and encourage all parents with children to keep at it, reminding students that school is a temporary decision with permanent benefits.

“It will end, I promise you,” Pierce said. “Just take it one semester — sometimes one day — at a time. You will be such a strong individual. If you have children, they will see what you are willing to do to give them and yourself a better life.”

Dreiling said she learned a big lesson during her time at WSU.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help and know your limits,” she said. “You’re not doing your child any favors by stressing yourself out to the max. You’ve got to take care of yourself before you can effectively take care of someone else.”

At the end of the day, Pierce said, children should come first.

“Do not sacrifice your children for school,” she said. “They are only little for a short time, and you do not want to miss out on those moments. That does not mean you shouldn’t do something for yourself. Just remember you don’t always have to be superwoman. You need to lean on others and let them help you.”