Students Raising Children club creates network for parents on campus

The average day of a student usually consists of classes, homework assignments and exams. For members of the Students Raising Children club, however, life can look a little bit different because they have the added responsibility of providing for their kids.

Rachelle McLain, collection development librarian at the MSU library and a faculty co-advisor for the club, founded the group in 2021 along with Sidrah Watson, an MSU graduate student at the time. McLain said that her original motivation for creating the club was a desire for connection. 

“We want other student parents to know there are others like them, so they don’t feel alone,” McLain said. “It can be a very isolating experience.” 

For many students raising children, finding a network of peers can be challenging due to busy schedules, said Christine Lux, an associate professor of early childhood education and co-advisor for the club. 

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 56 percent of student parents dedicate more than 30 hours a week to childcare on top of academic responsibilities. “Time seems to be the greatest challenge as a parent,” Lux said. “As a student, your demands on time are really heavy, and then you add parenting into that — it’s hard.”

 The club members hope to help their peers manage some of that time, share resources with each other and ultimately create an environment that is not intimidating to parents, McLain said.

Members have established a child care network, where students can feel comfortable asking their peers for help with pick up, drop off or after-school care, McLain said. 

Kimberlee Pollock — a mom to a two-year-old and a junior studying human development and family sciences — joined the club when she returned to campus in 2024. She said that they both benefit from having a supportive community.

“After all, it does indeed take a village,” Pollock said. 

While the club does not meet weekly or keep attendance records, Lux said that they do host regular events — such as bowling nights — that are open to all students raising children.

“We truly don’t want there to be any requirements for any of our members,” she said. “We truly want this to be fun.” 

McLain also emphasized the importance of children meeting other children whose parents are going through similar struggles. “Both the kids and the parents gain so much benefit,” she said.

Club President Maria Perks is a mom of two pursuing a graduate degree in mathematics education. She said that her kids have a lot of pride in MSU. 

“They feel connected here, and that’s an amazing thing,” she said. “It’s exciting when they want to come to work with me because they love MSU.” 

For Perks, part of ensuring this continued enjoyment is normalizing children in campus spaces. “My kids come to my office sometimes, and it just seems like it’s just a much more normal thing. We want to continue that,” she said.

To kick off the school year, the club will host a Coffee and Connection meeting in the Strand Union Building’s Fireside Lounge on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Student parents are invited to attend and meet peers. 

“I am really thankful and proud of the community that surrounds and supports us,” Pollock said. “It is my goal to keep paying it forward so that student parents can continue their education knowing they’re not alone along this difficult yet rewarding journey.”

To learn more about Students Raising Children, email msustudentsraisingchildren@gmail.com.