All of your instincts sound good! Trust your gut on this one. I just have to disagree with two things that came up in your post. One is the value of the "full college experience." Don't worry about missing out on that one! You may miss some parties and happy hours, but you are getting a whole different life experience that your fellow students can't even imagine. The other is the ideal mother idea. Everyone has their own image, of course, but not too many people would say realistically that a mother's life should be nothing but her child. A good mother is a happy and fulfilled mother, which for many women includes having an identity besides mommy.

Hi;

I think this dilema you are in is part of growing up and being young. When you are so young, you think that there is not enough time to do everything you want. You may think that you are missing out.

Although you have to be the one to make the decision; if it were me, I would take my baby with me. I fell pregnant when I was undertaking my 2nd year at Uni and had my 2nd baby in my fourth year. I had higher marks with my kids than when I first started. There will be many other challenges in life and this is one that you need to overcome with strength and support from family and friends.

Nothing is ever perfect and no mother is ever perfect. The hardest thing for me to accept was that I would never be a perfect person. We all make mistakes. Don't be too hard on yourself. Try and do the best you can starting today and I am pretty sure you will suceed and your daughter will be proud of you.

It sounds like your mom's home isn't the greatest environment to leave your daughter in, and I also think it might be too hard on you emotionally to leave her. Plus, you'd have to go home every weekend to see her, and it would cut into studying and/or socializing time.

If you are going to a school where students don't usually have children, you might find your daughter gets "adopted" by all of your friends, and they may be able to help you out in a pinch. Also, since you're saving money by going away, try to find a list of people that could babysit-a great source is child development programs, teaching programs, or nursing programs-many of them have flexible scheduling as well.
Finally, don't think you have to go to med school right away-it will be there; your daughter won't be young forever (I stayed at home when my kids were little, and started med school when my youngest was 4). It is much much easier when they are older! If it is too hard, consider taking a year off from college; work part time doing research or something medically relevant.

Good luck-and good for you for thinking so much about your daughter's welfare.