Hi there, I have twins who are now aged three years.
I started my phd when they were one and was going to do the three day childcare and work evenings and weekends but it just didnt work out. No real time to get momentum for anything and very constricted for conferences etc. So I sank my entire stipend (yep twins in nursery cost over £12,000 a year) into full time childcare and we make do on hubbys wages topped up with tax credits. This way I work mon-fri 9-5 and our weekends are all family time.

Mine went to full time nursery as I just don't like child minders (no offence to any out there I was one myself once). I don't like that closed door scenario. At least if one of the nursery nurses are struggling she/he can call for help. Also I negotiated with my nursery a discount for the second child and fee waiver of 6 weeks a year (when I have them off on holiday and you would normally pay a retainer). Nurserys are feeling the pinch of people being laid off and may be open to more negotiation than normal at the moment.

We have just got the governemnt childcare vouchers so at last I see abit of money from my stipend and when my funding ends they go into school full time.

I would recommend trying to get as close to full time care as possible and treat the phd like a full time job if you want to avoid more stress and ending up hating your phd because it takes time away from your family.

Having edited a journal I can honestly say that peer-reviews are so hit and miss. I've had three reviews on one article, one praising it as the mother of all articles, one saying it was weak in style but strong in content and the third rejecting it as utter tripe!! Its such a subjective thing and although reviewers should be detached and professional some of them, particularly ones who are new to it, just don't.
So don't be too hard on yourself, take from the comments that which you find useful and chalk it up to experience.
xxxxxx

Third year student here too and I have done very little now for about 4 weeks... I just can't. I'm in this weird place where in my head its all OK. But how can it be all ok when I have done NOTHIING of note, I got out a 2500 report on initial empirical work findings but thats about it. But some how I feel calm and in control and very confident. I told my supervisor who looked very worried and said she never felt confident when doing her PhD and that maybe it was post-fieldwork pre-christmas euphoria!!

did say today was going to be a good one but its sliding already work wise....ooppsss......

FANTASTIC!!!
Its this sort of news that:
a, Scares the pants off me
but
b, Gives me the push to keep going!!!!

Enjoy Dr. S!!!!!!

I am just finishing phase one of a longitudinal study (three interviews with each respondent over a 6 month period). Using existing similar studies I had calculated I needed 66 respondents at phase one in order to stave off high attrition rates and complete the study with 24.
In reality after 10 weeks I have only managed to get 30 respondents and now have to pray like hell they all remain to the end of the 6 months....otherwise I could have a very small sample!
I found I reached saturation on some areas of the interview quickly but the odd inquiry has continued to throw up new observations right to the end!!

I have just started teaching and like you have had very little in the way of prep, a few grad school courses and a meeting with the teaching sup. But to be honest I look at what the students need to achieve and set my own pace, with my own style (or lack of it). A gap in their critical analysis of readings was identified so I made a handout with some tips for them and distributed it at the first seminar. Also had a chat about how to be critical (geez I really went off an a tangent though using Razorlights 'america' as an exercise in deep analysis...although they seemed to grasp that concept about looking beyond the tune into the lyrics harmonies record label etc...just hope they apply it to the reading now!). Put yourself in their position and see what you would need to get the course done.

Mmmmmm lemon and sugar, maple syrup, blueberries and cream....I'm right with you

Hey there,
I pulled my upgrade out of the bag in 6 weeks so don't worry you have plenty of time. Give your self a good few hours purely planning what you need to say and how you are going to say it. Do the usual break it into managable chunks. You can do it don't get paralysed by the fear of it, the reality is always much better.

BE YOURSELF!! I spent far too long worrying about how to talk to my sups. I tell them whats going on with me and I don't care if they want to hear it or not. Occasionally I get little bits back but as a rule they are quite 'professional'. It no longer bothers me its their prob. if they don't take an opportunity to maybe share something about themselves. To thine own self be true

"postmortems are for the dead" Unknown

"If you want to see a rainbow you gotta put up with the rain" - Dolly Parton

Jacket potato and Philadelphia...had to have something reasonably healthy as its take out night tonight

Mmmm so 'X' factor is really the 'Christ' factor?
I must admit on the rare occasion I have watched the auditions for 'X' factor the words 'Oh Christ' have escaped my lips.....there might just be something in it

hangs head in shame, I don't use text language but my spelling and grammar is appalling
I do hate people putting 'xmas'. What exactly is a mass of 'X'?

no no no no no...horribly dangerous things you don't stand a chance if you come off. Car drivers just don't see them half the time and they get wiped out through no fault of their own.

I ring in our local church near Chesterfield. 8 lovely bells I started earlier this year and am finally at the stage where I can do rounds, call changes and am just starting plain hunt. I have rang 2nd, 3rd and 4th and its the best feeling in the world to be totally absorbed in something to the extent I don't think about anything else whilst I ring. Its my way of switching my brain off for an hour a week. I recommend it to anyone!!!