Are you a parent? If so, you deserve something special this Mother’s Day. While your kids are occupied with making you breakfast in bed (or are busy burning toast!), you can give yourself a very important reward this year—the gift of an education!

Every second Sunday in May, we take time out of our busy schedules to honor our moms. On Mother’s Day, we acknowledge all the hard work that our moms have done over the years, and show our appreciation for their love and support. So, if you’re a mom or a dad, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to re-evaluate your priorities.

It doesn’t take a college professor to know that taking care of small children involves a huge time commitment! However, kids do not remain babies forever, and before you know it, the little guys and girls are heading off to school. So, what’s a parent to do while their children are in school? While your kids are receiving an education, you can get yours too! If you’re a parent, you may not have had the time to go to school during your child’s early years, but there are lots of opportunities to further your education with online college.

Raising children while going to school isn’t easy, but enrolling in an online school will help you to accommodate your academic interests AND your busy schedule. Online students have the ability to study what they want, when they want, and where they want! For instance, if you are interested in pursuing a degree in interior decorating, you would be able to study from the comfort of your living room after your kids have gone to bed.

Online education is becoming an increasingly popular option for parents because they can decide whether they want to go to school full-time or part-time. While your kids are hard at work at school, you could also be studying! Going to school online is particularly easy to do because you don’t have to worry about driving to classes and making it to lectures on time—you can do everything on your computer! Thanks to the convenience of email and Internet forums, office hours are eliminated and online students can ask their professors questions about anything, anytime.

So, why is it important for parents to further their education? By going back to school, you will be doing yourself AND your family a huge favor. Think about it—the recent economic downturn has shown us just how important a degree is to your job security. If you have a college education and have valuable skills in the workforce, you are less likely to lose your job. After all, the more educated you are, the more money you will earn! Additionally, a higher degree will lead to a better-paying career, which will benefit every member of your family.

So, if you’re looking to switch careers, make a larger income, or earn more job security, take this Mother’s Day to reward yourself with some more learning!