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Sometimes being a parent in academia feels like riding a bike with a flat tire - you're working as hard as you can, you're exhausted and sweaty, but people are passing you with ease.
Academic Mom, PhD
34.1K posts
Academic Mom, PhD
@Momademia
Why choose between mom guilt and writing guilt when you can have both?
Encouraging and connecting parents in academia.
(she/her)
Joined November 2017
- Departmental meeting Me: what are we doing to support and prepare the, something like, 80% of grad students that won't go onto the tenure track? Them: *blink blink* Someone: *whispers* did you say 80?
- Shout out to all my first-gen academics who work tirelessly all year to navigate and succeed in the academy, then visit family at the holidays and feel even more out of place.
- Me, teaching: I'm so glad you're here! You're all wonderful! How can I support you today? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me draw you a diagram! Am I explaining this well? Never be sorry for having a question! Me, not teaching: Everyone please leave me alone forever.
- What? No, I am not "ready for the weekend." The weekend means laundry, shopping, cooking, cleaning, taxi-ing, and trying to squeeze in some time-sensitive work, all while being told I should relax more. So, no. I am not ready for all that. I'm ready for a nap.
- I think it's about time we all got some more badass academic parents on our timelines. Reply below with who you are and what you do, and I'll retweet! Undergrad, grad, post-doc, prof, etc. - let's hear from you! #AcademicChatter
- Dear students, Crying in my office doesnt necessitate an apology.
- Having a child under 12 right now feels like a race against time: what will happen first - catching covid or receiving the vaccine? Every day feels like we're rolling the dice. Is today the day?
- No matter how many times I explain that parents have to work, and no matter what task (work, chores, etc) I am engaged in, my daughter asks probably 10-20 times an hour for me to watch, or do, or see, or hear, or play, or help with something. It is heart breaking and exhausting.
- So, I got a job. A 9-5 with benefits and PTO and all that good stuff, still doing social science, but for the state. Is this what relief feels like?
- Trying to explain conferences to non-academics: "It's kind of like a science fair for adults but with booze?"
- We did not leave the house today, and had no visitors. We cooked and cleaned and baked and organized and snacked. We ate too much. No work was done. Jammies were worn and hair was wild. As she lay down for bed, my daughter reported, "today was a very good day."
- Me, all day: "Oh, gosh, I really need to work on X. Ugh, and Y really needs to get done this week. Oh, no, I forgot I have to do Z!!" Me, finally finding time to sit at my computer: *stares blankly in complete overwhelm until I get interrupted*
