Joanna Fortune: My young children are struggling with the demanding online course I've taken on

My nine-year-old daughter says I’m busy all the time. I want to be a good parent, but I also need to think of my future career

It may well be worth sitting with your nine-year-old, telling her that you are doing online school and have to study and do your homework, just like she does. Picture: iStock

I’m a single parent of two and trying to get ahead at work. I recently started an online post-grad course that is taking up a lot of my spare time. Last weekend, my nine-year-old daughter begged me to stop, saying I’m busy all the time. I feel I’m between a rock and a hard place. I want to be a good parent, but I also need to think of my future career.

You are thinking not only about your future career but also about your children’s future and how you can provide for their needs as they continue to grow and develop. You didn’t just stumble into this course; you considered it deeply, the workload and commitment, and yes, the sacrifices it brought with it.