why does the sun shine when I have a thesis to write???

[yummybunnymummy]

Shouldn't be here as I should be writing my thesis. Dh has taken the dc (3yrs and 18mths)out for the day so I need to take the opportunity to work, but its sooooo sunny, and i've been at the computer for 6 hours and my bottom is numb...slow progress here.

Well MrsS - I'm a pretty knackered old bag so it already sounds as though your stamina is going to be better than mine. I am VERY keen to finish on time though for the same reasons - I can't afford the increased daycare once my grant runs out.

I'm a bit confused about research vs teaching jobs. I want to stay in research (ie I'm fine with teaching but primarily I want to carry on in research) but since I am geographically somewhat limited I will basically take what I can get and keep looking if necessary. Shall we race to submission?

My project is largely psych based too - looking at theory of mind and empathy.

Mum2G - you must have been pretty off about that. Interesting that your supervisor totally didn't see it coming shudder*. We have had a couple like this in my time. I'm sure when I finally submit I will really not want to look at it again ever! Jill (who should be working Right Now....)

acinonyx - have you thought about applying for a fellowship? That way you can hol dit anywhere you like. The ESRC do a one-year fellowship scheme where you basically get a year to write up your thesis as journal articles and present your findings at lots of conferences. This will put you in a really good position to get a more permanent job afterwards. Apologies if you know all about it already but thought it was worth mentioning just in case..

ToM and empathy - how interesting - is it with children/adults/clinical samples?

My dept is biological anthropology and is specifically not funded by esrc (but would fund social anthropology) which is a major pain as they would otherwise be the obvious research council for a project like mine. I might need to change depts - but that has other problems. This is the problem with interdisciplinary projects - everyone wants more of them but nobody wants to fund them (rant, rant).

I'll look into it though, thanks.

I'm testing normal adults - sib pairs. There's no money in 'normal' people. Jill

Have you tried the Leverhulme Trust? They are very pro-interdisciplinary stuff, at least in principle...

We are also constrained in terms of geography. I am applying to work with someone in Oxford as a post-doc but even if we get the money it'll be no good unless dh can also get work in the area...

It's all such a nightmare now but I think in a few years' time when we all have our permanent lectureships we'll look back fondly on these days

They are on my list. I'm at Cambridge now - this is where I live and dh works (he can't move). My plan B if I can't stay on here is to commute to London (ugh!) - lots of people do it in this position while waiting to get a position here (a friend on mine's dh did it for 12 years until a post came up at Oxford). I really hope it doesn't come to that though. Are you writing a grant for your postdoc? I expect to have to do that.

What is your dh's area? Jill (who is really slacking today - just in a grotty mood!)

Hmm wouldn't fancy commuting either - are there any possibilities of staying on at Cambridge - even a teaching job might be better than commuting until a research post came up? Don't you sometimes wish you were one of these 22yr old singletons who can move anywhere at the drop of a hat - now they have the world at their feet, lucky buggers!

My dh is in the geography dept, but could move to anthropology or sociology - he has an interview in Edinburgh tomorrow - don't know what we would do if he got it and I got funding to go to Oxford... yes I am applying for one of those ESRC one-year fellowships to go and work with someone in Oxford, god knows if I'll get it

feeling a bit grumpy too...

Oh gosh - what WOULD you do? Would you go for one year? We've decided not to live apart - had to decide that early on as we used to work overseas and it was always going to be a problem getting us both work in the same city (or even country). I can see how hard it would be if you are both looking for posts and I do know a few people who live apart for a while - very tough with kids though. How do you feel about it? I don't think my dh would go for it at all - he'd let me go - but he wouldn't let me take dd! If I hadn't had dd, I would have thought about it. Before dd I had aspirations to apply to Harvard - now I'd be happy to consider any college of any description within commuting distance!

Moving for a postdoc (or 2, or 3) is definitely the Done Thing. I'm not very optimistic about staying on here - but if I could get a grant then I'm sure they'd have me (anyone will have you if you come with money). But grants are so competitive (I warn you dh complains about my negativity) I'm just feeling that it's all such an uphill struggle (and I'm totally fed up that my paperwork has got lost AGAIN to reactivate my grant and I need to pay dd's nursery fees which are booked 2 mo in advance rantrantrant).

Tell me it's all worth it!

Why don't you find someone over here to work with then maybe we could get a nanny share! Jill

It IS all worth it (no idea if that's true but I have to believe it).

No I wouldn't want to live apart at all and in fact I think it would be completely unfeasible with two children. DH is happy to come to Oxford and is basically banking on me getting the funding but if he got a great job before then I don't know what would happen. Think I would rather give up on academia altogether than live apart..

Would you like to keep working with your current supervisor? Could he/she apply for a grant with you as the named post-doc? I'm sure it will work out for both of us - this is just the most nerve-wracking time - end in sight, no opportunities as yet... I'm sure we will look back in a year or two and wonder what we got so worked up about.. hope so anyway

It is? Oh good, that's alright then.

That is definitley my plan A - to write a grant under his name. Our fields actually barely overlap (insert long story) so that could be tricky but we could probably lure in a sleeping partner.

Feeling slightly less bitter and twisted since my rarely-spotted supervisor rang and and we might actually get this paperwork sorted out (it has been Lost AGAIN). It's been hard generating any urgency about - but I'm not some flouncing stoppy-out-all-night single 22 yr-old with rich parents - I need my bloody money pronto to pay nursery fees (not my bar bill, as they probably imagine over at the admin office).

hello, how are you all doing? I feel like I haven't been on MN for ages. My mum wasn't very well a few weeks back, shes almost back to her happy self so thats great, but am further behind...Am trying not to panic, I only have 8 weeks until my deadline!!!

Wow yummy - only 8 weeks! Could you get an extension if you need to due to your mum's illness - or would that just prolong the agony? Glad to hear your mum is getting better.

I'm officially back and expected to actually be in the dept. I only have 3 days childcare so that will have to do and the rest will have to be ev & weekends (oh joy - like today in fact). I feel as though I've been shot out of a canon.

How is everyone else?

3 days back in the dept? Hope it all goes really well. I don't honestly know where we all get the energy to raise kids and study like this...
I feel like I'm juggling so much and the boys always come first but its so difficult to switch off thesis (or stop worrying about the lack of coherent thesis thoughts) mode when the deadline is approaching so quickly...phew...am off to drink a glass of wine, if I think about it too much I'll start panicking..

I could always apply for another extension but with christmas it doesn't seem worth it. My main problem is trying to get everything written so my supervisors have enough time to read it through. Their average turn around time is about 4 months. If I knew I could work full time for the 6 weeks, I'd be laughing....

my only consolation is that I'll open my advent calender box on 1st Dec and I'll only be worrying about my viva which won't be arranged until after the new year....which will be fantastic!

Yummy - just picture how fantastic that will be to have actually have submitted (picture me drooling wistfully over my keyboard). That really is a good incentive. I think I will be delirious with joy when I finally submit.

I'm doing supervisions as well - it's madness but I can't really say no. Been talking to dh about The New Regime. Bought lots of cartons of soup for some evening meals and I will need him to pick up dd from nurery. Reliably, that is. We'll see.

Dh travels often for work too - oh I feel stress and chaos approaching.

It does feel strange. Dd is always at the front of my mind and it doesn't seem right to have this other thing at the front of my mind, even some of the time. And it's not always easy to switch gears from data analysis to The Ginger Bread Man.

Note to self: when in dept - never whine about childcare problems and conflicts. Leave that to MN!

agh..............am writing about hydrochemistry of wetlands and am sniffling, and all bunged up..have the kids cold..but have to get on with this....must get lots of words done today, so I feel happier...just read a motivational quote about getting 80% of the work done in just 20 % of the time...not sure it applies to literature reviews!!!!!! Sure hecks applies to most of us mums though!

Hello everyone

yummy - I am also very jealous that you are anywhere close to submission which i just am not (and can't imagine the day that i am...)

I have been in my office since 8am, it's now nearly 11 and I've done nothing constructive except look at mn

Plus it doesn't help that everyone who started their PhDs when I did have submitted / are about to submit and of course have no children!

With dc2 due in 8 weeks I'm finding it increasingly hard to concentrate on my thesis as all my thoughts are on the impending birth/baby/how my dd will cope.... aaagggghhh

hi acinonyx - completely agree about the switching from thesis to dd problem - my head is just permanently inbetween the two i think so no-one benefits..

How are you all doing???

Right...Am in panic mode......6 weeks to go and I have loads left to do, have hardly done anything over the last 10 days.....Dh was involved in a car crash on Tuesday, he is fine, very shaky, bruised etc but so lucky, the car was a complete write off, am amazed he walked away from it all....the boys are still ill....I just can't imagine how I'm ever going to finish writing and pull it all together....

phew...am focusing on tiny bits...400 words so far today!!
love YBM

..agh..less than 4 weeks to go and it is a beautiful, sunny autumnal day...

Hello all! Hope you don't mind me joining in too... I am just starting to write up properly- I have DS who is 2.5 and DD 4 months. I have been doing a part-time PhD while working for 5 yrs and really have to finish it by next summer for my sanity. Have quite working and was a SAHM for 5 months but now have roped in a friend to childmind my kids for 3 mornings a week, and once DD starts to sleep better I'm hoping to work a bit in the evenings too. But finding it hard to get my hear into gear after so long away from it!!

DP has just taken DS away for a few hours and DD is sleeping so trying to get into writing again. Any tips for motivation or approaching writing of an entire thesis!! Have lots of mainly handwritten notes, and all one article to be submitted which I also want to include as a chapter, but that's it! (all my data collection is done, 80% of data analysis/interp done)... Feel like I have so much to get through!!!

Good luck everyone! It's nice to know others are out there doing this! xx

Please excuse all my typos - the typing's not as good as it once was!!

PS2. Good luck yummybunnymummy- do let us know how you are getting on!!

Hi yummy - good luck with your deadline. We've just had a very ill week - not me - but dh and dd. Terribly inconsiderate of them!

Nika - I'm hoping to submit next autmn. I'm doing my data analysis just now. Since I started my final year the working hours have radically increased and it's been quite an adjustment. Apart from my 3 days when dd (2.4) is at nursery I work on Sat and most evenings - sometimes even first thing in the morning before dh goes to work. It's exhausting and I hope I can keep it up.

Well-done for dong this with 2 kids. I would love to have had another baby but we are not able to - but if I had I really don't know if I would ever finish.

I also have a heap of handwritten notes mainly in a series of big notebooks. I have heard that it works best to begin with the method and analysis rather than the lit review - or rather - don't just finish the lit review before moving on because your review will be influenced by your results. I think you have to break it down into really small deadlines. I am determined to finish next year - or I will go mad, and worse, I will run out of money.

Acinonyx- hope your DH & DD are better now. It's so miserable when they're poorly, and impossible to do any work! I am very impressed by your working hours- does your DH take DD away for the day on Saturdays so you can work? My DP has offered to take DS away to his parents for one day and a night every 3 weeks at a weekend so I could hopefully do more work at the weekends- as DD is still breastfed she will stay with me but she does settle for a few periods in the daytime when I could work. I feel really guilty 'sending' DS away at a weekend, but I think since I get very little time during the week it might be the only way to give me a chance of finishing... Starting to work the odd hour in the eve too now... Having to resist cleaning the house then though!!

Hope you are not too stressed yummy?! xx

How is it going Yummy?

Yes - it's worse when dh is ill as there's no-one to help out!

Dh takes dd to the library then swimming on Sat morning then I make her lunch at home. I'm hoping I won't need to work in the afternoons as a rule - just sometimes. If I do, she might nap (although she is dropping naps ) or dh will play with her while I stay in my home office (my Sacred Domain). She is very much a daddy's girl so it's not so hard for her to do this. She would love to go away with daddy for the weekend! Hmmm. I might think about that later.

I think working with a young baby is really hard - I didn't really start again until dd went to nursery 2 afternoons a week at 7.5 mo. Mainly I was just so tired all the time there was no question of working in the evenings - only during the day.

I think it depends which bit you are doing - some parts are easier to do in small time slots than others. I think the actual writing will be very hard to do in small random slots.

Oh let's just get these things FINISHED!!!

am having real up and down moments, as I have so much to do and am working flat out on it all....the boys are not sleeping well and I'm tired!! But the thought of handing it in, keeps me going....I keep imagining the joy of it!
Am printing off a draft discussion chapter and depending on how it reads I may feel a lot better or....very sad...

Thinking of you Yummy, lots of hugs. Like you said keep focusing on the end point. You won't know yourself when you have finished! I am dreading how I will cope when the deadline approaches. Hope you are pleased with your discussion once you read it again.

DP has taken DS down to his parent's to stay tonight and come back tomorrow afternoon so I am supposed to now be working on the PhD whenever DD is asleep. Feel very guilty 'sending' DS away for 28hrs at a weekend but also know it gives me a chance to get some decent work done. So better get to it I guess (& not start cleaning which is also suddenly tempting!).