Signup date: 13 Aug 2010 at 10:27pm
Last login: 16 Mar 2012 at 12:48pm
Post count: 212
Yes, it's possible. I'm married with 3 children, and in the first year of my full-time PhD. I've had to mark out my territory at home, and limit the number of evenings spent reading. It's been a huge adjustment for my family, as they've assumed for years that I'll always do the shopping, school run, dry cleaning etc., and things have definitely changed on that score. I expect the reason it's tolerated is because it's fully funded, and may enable me to access a wider range of opportunities in the long run.
Hi OP, your embarrassment and anxiety indicates you fear criticism, whether or not it's legitimate or warranted. As a parent of a teenager, in all honesty, I'd have concerns about the situation, but that doesn't mean that you've overstepped the line. It's just a parent thing, I guess.
You'll have to write a killer research proposal to stand a chance, but it is possible. I was at home for nearly 10 years with the kids, after a 7yr career, did my Masters, and landed a funded Humanities PhD last summer. I've no idea where this will take me in 3 years time, but I'm getting the biggest buzz from having a go. Good luck.
I've a 12, 10 and 5yr old, and am in my first year. The only way I've managed this is by landing a fully funded AHRC award. The killer is the intermittant deadlines: I had to submit 5000 words on Jan 7th, which wrote off my Christmas, and pretty much for my entire family. The mistake I made recently, with regard to a deadline, was assuming that I'd be as productive during half term as I was over the christmas period. Big mistake: at christmas, my OH was at home for a fortnight, so we shared childcare during the day, and I wrote at night. This time, at half term, he was at work, so I had all 3 children during the day, and was too shattered to write in the evenings. It will be worth it, and my kids are so proud. Plan, plan, plan.
Bank accounts and passports? Are you joking? Do you put it on your utility bills? Your store loyalty cards? I just don't understand how a non-academic environment legitimizes the use of 'Dr.' My sister is a consultant surgeon, who saves lives on a daily basis by completing transplant procedures: she's quite happy to be 'Miss', so I'd feel such a fraud wheeling out an academic title in irrelevant contexts. Horses for courses I suppose.
Feeling your pain AJ. At least the agony is at intervals, as you're unlikely to hear out of office hours. Bit like labour, imo. For me, landing the studentship was a turning point in my career/my life, as I'd been at home for years with the kids, so I think the interviewer was a bit surprised at how pleased I was: it's so difficult to explain what it means to go from housewife/mum to funded research scholar overnight. Crossing everything for you.
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