Believe me when I say that I feel the pressure. I want to finish and get on with "life"--whatever that means. It sucks to be a perpetual student. I have so often, especially now with kids, thought about just dropping it and remaining ABD forever (that's not so bad right? What is so great about a dissertation?) But I am so close, that it would be a travesty of colossal proportions (ok maybe not colossal) to quit.
My own internal pressure is compounded by the constant (ok, maybe not constant, but it feels that way sometimes) questions: When are you going to finish? How long do you have left? When are you going to finish? When are you going to finish? When are you going to finish? ....... ad nauseam.
Oh, and please don't tell me that your neighbor's son or your friend's husband completed a Ph.D. in under three years. If his Ph.D. does not require a minimum of 3 years of coursework and then an 8-hour written comprehensive exam with a 2-hour oral follow-up before even being considered for candidacy which then allows you the pleasure of beginning the dissertation, don't even talk to me about it.
It is not like it has been an easy road. I was sick for a year. I had two pregnancies, two c-sections, two newborns, and now two little kiddos that require constant attention. I also have a husband and a house. I do NOT have money for a nanny, a housekeeper, or a personal chef.
In the midst of this conversation with hubby, I realized exactly what I need to finish my Ph.D.: I need a wife.
.
It reminded me of an essay that I read in college (UG) written in 1971 by Judith Sayers. You can read it here.
On a much much much sweeter, nicer, juicier note, baby boy turned 10 months this weekend.
2 comments:
Good grief, girl! You must keep plugging away -- slowly but surely -- or you will regret it. You are up against some big obstacles -- two kids and having all the household responsiblities. I completely admire you ... I know for a fact I couldn't do it. I know it probably seems long for your husband but life gets in the way sometimes. I do think it is one of those things that you would regret so much later that it is worth the pain now. As Dory says in Nemo "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."
And your child is adorable!
What a gorgeous kid.
And I can't even SPELL Ph.D., so I'm in awe of anyone that's even close to one.
Wendi Aarons
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