Choosing Early Childhood Education at Eötvös Loránd University Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education wasn’t random. I knew a baby was on the way, and I wanted to understand children from the very start—from those tiny, newborn moments that no textbook can fully explain. 

Even so, I didn’t quite realise what it would actually feel like to be both a student and an expecting mother at the same time. And then, in the spring semester, my son arrived—and suddenly, everything I was learning became very real, very quickly. What I didn’t expect was how supported I would feel along the way. From my teachers to my classmates, people were incredibly understanding—and more than that, genuinely kind. 

Academically, the university made it possible for me to continue my studies in a way that worked with my situation. Because of my pregnancy and later childbirth, I was allowed to apply for a special study plan. This meant that for some courses, I could complete extra assignments at home instead of attending every class in person. It wasn’t always easy, but it gave me the flexibility I needed during a time when everything in my life was changing.  

But not everything could be done from home. Some classes really needed you to be there in person—and those became little challenges I had to plan around. I remember our visual arts class, where we worked with clay. It’s the kind of course where your hands have to be there—you can’t really shape something through a screen. Luckily, I finished it before my baby was born, which felt like a small victory at the time (and later, a very big relief). 

The same went for my nursery practice. With the support of my teachers, I was able to complete it in advance. Looking back, I don’t think I realised how important that was until after my son arrived. It gave me the space to slow down and focus on him without constantly worrying about unfinished requirements. 

And then there was one moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I took one of my written exams with my 50-day-old baby. He came with me. I sat there, trying to focus on my answers, while my teacher gently held him beside me. It was such a simple moment, but it meant so much. I didn’t feel like I had to choose between being a student and being a mother. Somehow, in that quiet classroom, I was both—and that felt enough. 

There are also small details at the faculty that make a big difference. One of my favourites is the mother-and-baby room. It feels like a tiny, hidden safe space in the middle of university life. Inside, you can find everything—diapers, a changing table, baby carriers, toys, and comfortable chairs for breastfeeding. And yes, even a yoga ball. If you’ve never had a newborn, you might not know this—but a yoga ball is basically magic. Gently bouncing with your baby can calm them almost instantly. It’s like a secret trick that every new parent eventually discovers. 

What I also found special about this program is how practical it is. In one of our practice rooms, we learn how to care for babies using lifelike dolls, baby bathtubs, and all the essentials. Before my son was born, I practised there without fully realising how real those skills would soon become. And then suddenly, I was doing all of it in real life. 

We also learn many nursery rhymes and children’s songs each semester, sometimes even playing them on the recorder. I found myself practicing at home, softly singing lullabies to my baby as I learned. In a way, he became my smallest—and most honest—audience. 

In Hungary, public nurseries usually accept children from around 20 weeks old, but in reality, many families wait until their child is around one and a half years old. This is partly because of family-friendly policies—mothers can take up to three years of maternity leave. It means more time at home, more time to grow together. 

Even though we may not often work directly with newborns in nurseries, understanding early development is still an important part of our training. As future educators, parents will turn to us with questions. And now, I don’t just learn from textbooks—I learn from lived experience. 

If you’re someone like me—returning to university to pursue another degree, maybe even in a completely new field—you might wonder if it’s too much. But I’ve learned that neither age nor motherhood has to hold you back. 

At ELTE, bringing your baby to campus doesn’t feel like a disruption. It feels… welcome. People smile. Some wave. Some come over just to peek and say, “How cute!” There’s a kind of quiet joy that seems to follow a baby around here. And somehow, in the middle of lectures, assignments, and sleepless nights, you begin to realise—you’re not doing this alone. I’m truly grateful to everyone who supported us, and to the faculty for creating such a caring and understanding environment.