The Gonzalez family is not just any ordinary family. Dad, mom, aunt, brother and sisters are all furthering their education.

Dad, Jorge E. Gonzalez, is attending both Palo Alto College and San Antonio College as a Computer Science major. Mom, Antoinette M. Gonzalez, who goes by "Toni," attends Palo Alto College and is majoring in Education. Aunt Cynthia C. Gonzalez, Jorge’s sister, attends St. Philip’s College and is majoring in Culinary Arts.

The three children are Mercedes R. Gonzalez, a sophomore at McCollum High School; Chloe N. Gonzalez, a fifth grader at Carroll Bell Elementary; and son, Dylan E. Gonzalez, a third grader, also at Carroll Bell.

This family all lives together under one roof, with income provided by Jorge and Toni.

Jorge, who has been employed at Bexar Met Water System for the past 17 years, works Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the weekends, he works a side job delivering party tables, chairs and moon bounces.

Toni is employed by the Harlandale Independent School District, where she works as a teacher’s assistant Monday through Friday during school hours, and she also works as a home health care provider.

Aunt Cynthia C. Gonzalez is currently unemployed so that she has the time to care for the kids in the evenings while Mom and Dad are at school.

She attends college while the kids are at school, then returns home in time for Jorge and Toni to leave for classes.

Toni sees her family’s life together as a "blessing, because we have the support of one another."

On the weekends, Jorge goes to work and Dylan goes along to lend a helping hand.

Toni and the girls run errands and attend events, such as band or dance competitions and birthday parties, and they do chores, such as laundry.

Sundays are spent at the Palo Alto library catching up on homework and returning home to get ready for the week ahead.

The family’s schedule on the weekdays starts out at six in the morning for the kids, mom, dad and aunt; the children’s day ends at about four in the afternoon.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Toni and Jorge attend night classes at Palo Alto and on Thursdays Jorge attends a night class at San Antonio College.

"Tuesday nights are family nights," Toni said. "My husband and I get a chance to be home with the kids and spend quality time together. We get a chance to watch all of our favorite shows that we record on our DVR."

On Friday nights, the family attends football games and events to help chaperone the school band and dance team that their eldest daughter, Mercedes, is involved.

Jorge and Toni have very high expectations for their children, although most of the pressure is set on Mercedes.

"My parents have not let me miss a day of school since elementary," said Mercedes.

Toni is constantly checking on her grades and making sure that she stays on track.

"My husband and I don’t want for our kids to go down the wrong path. We want the best for them, and to finish school right away," said Toni.

As for the two small ones, Toni is employed at their school, so it gives her the opportunity to stay updated on their grades as well.

Chloe said, "I’m happy that my parents are going to college. They can learn new things that will help them help me with my homework."

Jorge and Toni met when Toni was 19. She was unable to complete high school because she was left with the responsibility to care for her mother who was very ill. Jorge graduated from South San High school in 1993. They had their first child together that same year. While living with Jorge’s grandmother, they saved money to be able to purchase a home.

Jorge returned to college in 2006, 13 years after graduating from high school. Toni worked and took care of the kids until Jorge decided that he needed to motivate his wife to finish her education. Toni earned her GED at Frank M. Tejeda Academy, and she began taking courses at Palo Alto this fall.

"My husband [inspired] me to go back to school and gave me full support," she said. "I couldn’t be telling my kids that they need to go to school, and how important it is for them to have a degree, with me not even having my GED."

Dylan said that it makes him "happy that mom and dad are going to school, because they can learn a lot of things."

Many times Toni doubted her ability to juggle being a wife, parent, working and caring for her mother. Jorge, though, never let her give up the will to keep trying. "Everything will fall into place," he said.

This family is a role model for many. They have each other’s support and the desire to keep going.

Juggling being a parent, working two jobs and attending night school really takes patience, motivation and family support.

Having an aunt who is willing to be a part of the immediate family to help care for the children during the evenings helps tremendously. Like any family, they have their ups and downs, but overcoming them together is the key.