WHEN Janet Mercer was pregnant with her fifth child she decided to embark on a five-year psychology degree.

Well you would, wouldn't you? With your oldest child just seven, followed by another three boys aged six, two and one... the days must be hard to fill.

"People did used to think I was quite mad," says the 33-year-old from Ladybridge, "but it was all about being extremely organised.

"I have never been one to sit back and do nothing and I had left school with no formal qualifications, so I thought 'What can I do while my children are small that will benefit me when they all start school?'

"I had always harboured an interest in psychology and I had already done an A-level in the subject at night school, so I decided a degree was the next step. I discussed it with my husband, Anthony, and he said he would support me all the way."

So a heavily pregnant Janet embarked on five years of study.

"I had to be extremely organised," she says. "I would get up at 6.30am, make breakfast, get my oldest, Andrew, ready for school, see my husband off to work and spend the day with my other children, Daniel, Matthew and Adam. For the first year it was one full day and one full night of study, and my mum helped out enormously.

"After that I would go to college two nights a week from six until 9pm and, gradually, as each of my sons went to playschool I managed to fit in some study during the day."

By the time Janet's daughter, Christie was born she had got studying, childcare and homelife management down to a fine art.

"But when I had Christie I realised I needed to take some time off. Sleepless nights, breastfeeding and studying don't make for a very alert student, so I took six months off."

On her return to college, Janet continued with her gruelling schedule - making sure that in between studying she spent as much time with her family as possible.

"My children always came first, and they always will, so I was determined they would not miss out on any time with me. For those five years our lives ran with military precision. They had to or I simply wouldn't have been able to get through the course.

"A typical day would start at 6.30am. I would get up and get breakfast ready. Then I would get the children up and my husband would help take them to school or playgroup.

"While the younger kids had a nap I would whizz round with a duster and shove the washing in the machine before making lunch. By then my mum would have arrived and I would leave her to look after the younger children and collect the older ones from school and playgroup.

"If I had an evening lecture, I would make tea for everyone and leave as soon as Anthony came home. Sometimes, if he was going to be late, my mum would come and take over until he arrived. That way he would be able to shower and change before taking charge of the kids.

"It was hectic at times - and looking back now I wonder how I managed it - but at the time I just did it. I was determined to finish my degree and it was that, plus the sheer enjoyment I got out of my course, that got me there in the end."

Amid all the organised chaos, Janet describes her study time as "my time - a time of calm".

She said: "If I could organise childcare, sometimes after a lecture I would sit in the college library and study and I absolutely loved it."

Janet says she also enjoyed the whole college experience after feeling rather hesitant about enrolling.

"I thought I'd stick out like a sore thumb among all the young students, but I needn't have worried, everyone was great and there were quite a few other mature students around. In fact, all four people who got a first on the course were all mature students."

Janet says her graduation day was "one of my proudest".

"Yes," she nods, "I was proud of myself, absolutely. I had worked incredibly hard, made sure my family hadn't suffered and, not only had I got my degree, I had got a first."

She was also awarded the Institute's Mick Avis Award - given to only two students each year - for her degree dissertation.

"I was so excited on the day I graduated," she says, "and felt wonderful in my cap and gown - wearing them was like wearing my wedding dress - I never wanted to take them off.

"Anthony was there at the ceremony along with my parents and his - they were all so proud of me. We all went out for lunch afterwards but I couldn't wait to get home to show the children. They had been really excited for me and wanted to see what I looked like in the cap and gown!"

So what now?

Janet says she is not going to decide on anything until after the summer holidays.

"Christie starts school in September so that's all the children away from home during the day," she says. "It's scary, so much free time! What on earth will I do to fill it?"

But she does have one or two plans up her sleeve.

"I would like to do my Masters and then maybe a PhD. I really want to be a clinical psychologist so I know I've got a lot more studying yet."

Useful websites:

www.ucas.ac.uk

www.theaward.org

www.palgrave.com/skills4study

www.lifestyle.co.uk