'Always on the clock': BYU student moms balance academics and motherhood

For many students, balancing school, work and a social life is already challenging. For student mothers at Brigham Young University, that balance also includes raising children, often with limited campus support and resources.

Ive had to sacrifice school because being a mom is my number one priority, Lexy Comish, a master's student studying sociology, said. The first week of school this semester, my son got [Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)] and bronchitis, and we were in the hospital for a day, and I missed the entire first week of school because I was trying to get him healthy and back on his feet.

On top of her schoolwork, Comish also works 20 hours a week on campus as a research assistant, working with professors on various projects.

I never planned to have a kid while I was in school and it was definitely a big adjustment. Youre always on the clock as a mom and then add on to it your schoolwork. There are a million things that these moms are juggling and dealing with and its really hard, Comish said.

All three of the student mothers interviewed expressed a desire for more accessible and affordable childcare options on campus.

Emma Heywood, a human development major, pointed to the lack of options for students with very young children, noting that BYUs preschool programs are not always feasible.

Theres three problems for me with the preschool: its hard to get into, its expensive and its only for older kids, Heywood said.

The age range of BYUs preschool is ages four to nine. For students who have a baby while theyre in school, the likelihood of them still being a student at BYU by the time their child is old enough to attend is low.

Even if I had the money, even if he could get in, hes not old enough, so I dont have anyone to watch him, Heywood said.

Local universities, such as Utah Valley University, offer childcare for as little as $1.50 per hour per child. Heywood believes that BYU should offer childcare for its students.

What if they did volunteer babysitting, like at the family study room and made it like a Y-serve opportunity? Babysitting could be free while parents do homework, thatd be really cool, Heywood said.

While many student mothers face challenges balancing school and childcare, some navigate additional hardships that reshape their entire college experience.

Kristina Keyes found herself navigating single-motherhood since her husbands unexpected passing last July. Keyes was six months pregnant at the time, and is now raising their son, Seth.

Im not currently taking classes because I withdrew from last semester because my son was born and there was a lot to handle with just me taking care of him, Keyes said.

Keyes' husband passed away from a rare heart disease. The disease had gone undetected, making his death completely unexpected for the family.

I wish that people would be more understanding and realize that everyones experience is different, Keyes said.

BYU Student Moms is a BYUSA club that provides a community of support and resources for student mothers navigating school, work, and family life.

Honestly, it was kind of hard for me to find a community because I felt very alone on campus. Im 21, so Im very young to be a mom, Heywood said. The student mom group helped me in my spiral of postpartum depression a little bit.

The BYU Student Moms club helps student mothers find community, practical support and a reminder that they are not alone in their struggle.