When Work = School

ooooh, I like this board..hadn't seen it before. yay!

I will also be starting my PhD with a small baby. I am due in April, and will be starting classes in September, so not exactly a newborn, but still.

My opinion is that it is easier to go to school with a baby than work, but I am only basing that on my personal experience. Other people think I'm insane for thinking this way.

I started my undergrad when my son was 11 months. I lived on campus, in a regular apartment (not rez!) and there was a great daycare right there. I found it much easier to plan my scheduale and the daycare was flexible with people dropping in when they had a break form classes and stuff.

My son is now 9 (I had him  young) and I have a BA and am just finishing my 2nd Master's. I have been working full time this year, but find it exhausting and stressful with an older child so I don't want to know what it will be like with 2.

I think going for a PhD is great, at least in my fields (canadian & medical history) since I can really be flexible with my schedule.

I will be putting the baby in daycare, and I know it will be tight financially, but I think it is the best fit for me. I will be TAing/marking for extra money and I like that you can grade papers any time of day.

I'm sure a Business PhD is more stressful than a history one ( I only have to take 2 classes my first year), but I know you can do it!

Good luck!

First, congratulations on your pregnancy! I wish you the best in the coming months!

One thing that benefits you is that both you and your husband are in school and creative scheduling can really help with a small baby. When I was in school part-time and my then-husband went full-time, we worked the schedules out so that he would be home when I had class and I would be home when he had class. I am not sure how different scheduling is with a PHD though.

The upside to waiting a year is that you will be home without a doubt with your baby, you won't have to worry about childcare until your baby is a year old, you will get to enjoy the little things without the stress of homework, research, and all that goes with being a grad student. The downside to waiting a year is that it is one more year that you are going to be in school later.

It is possible to go to school and raise a baby, even on little money! There are many programs available to help you through the trying times and no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of those programs, especially if you are not allowed to work off-campus while getting a PHD. (WIC, Medicaid, Food Stamps, to name a few, are all available and would help with the financial aspect tremendously!)

Best of luck to you and let us know what you decide!
Brandi~

I wish I knew how to respond to ALL, but I am not able to.

Since you all have been very helpful, I thought you should know what I decided to do.

First of all, DH is extremely supportive of my continuing my studies, because I want it so much, he wants it for me...so I know I am not going this alone. That helps. He even read your replies and showed me that the positive replies were much more than the negative aspects, and that there are logistical remedies to the hard parts.

However, the fact remains that I have never had a child, and do not know how my life will be after. But, as a couple of you have said, scheduling with school around a baby is easier than at a regular job.

Anyway, all said, I have decided to apply to several schools, see where I am accepted. Then, I will research the childcare options available (as much as I can from far away) and housing options. I am also preliminarily planning to start this fall, assuming I am accepted with financial aid, and try it out. If I cannot go on, I can always take a leave of absence until the baby is at least a little older and can be accepted at more childcare centers.

Thank you all for your replies. This question has weighed heavily on my mind and I really needed reassurance.

Congratulations on your decision!!! And, congratulations on having such a wonderful supportive husband ;)

I hope that you'll stick around the board and keep us updated on how everything is going for you.

Good luck with all the schools you apply at as well.

Kellie