agh.......only 10 days left to finish the PhD corrections, 2dc's..I know its almost there...but agh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yummybunnymummy]

title says it all......so difficult with the 2dcs...however I am nearly there and will be graduating in December...am just tired...everything takes soooooooooooooooo much longer than you think....

You'll do it!
I did (oh, though I didn't have any kids at the time ). Stick at it!

i know...just feel down..when i should be feeling so pleased and proud that I've got this far, not that many corrections but the small things like all the page numbers have changed, figure numbers etc...take forever to sort out etc...
the thought of school run and working all night etc...just feel tired...but it is the last push and then I can really party and drink lots!!!!!!!!

Ah, the night is darkest before the dawn! I'm so envious that you are graduating in Dec. Push on - it will be so worth it.

I am resigned to missing my Dec deadline by a mile and aiming for March. I just so want to get this blasted thing finished!

Oh I know it takes forever - I well remember having mine all sorted, taking it to the printer, getting it back (day before the deadline)...and realising that all my figures had gone awry at the printers!
You will get there and just think how great it will be to be DOCTOR yummybunnymummy ;)

it will be great.. Dr.yummybunnymunny...hmmmmmm..dh sounds quite excited

sorry Acinonyx..should mention that I have missed so many deadlines.... however this one is not up for negotiation

three words...

...bl**dy track changes.................................................

WEll done on finishing. I'm still struggling to submit before Xmas.

keep going giddly...i know i'm moaning buts its only because i've loads of seemingly inane changes to make.......and only a couple of days left...........

..seeing the thesis bound altogether is a lovely feeling

I are you planning to reward yourself when you graduate?

Not too sure what we'll do....I may throw a party (mainly as its easier with the dc to do it here) and its been such a huge thing to live through for the whole family.

I know dh has been planning on buying me a lovely piece of jewelery as I brought him a lovely watch when he graduated..but we had more money then.....so am not too sure. Equally I know he would love to whisk me away for a romantic weekend but the grandparents don't want to babysit the dc's for that long.

however the graduation is only a few weeks after I finally hand in and we'll all be going (taking ds1 out of school) and have a nice lunch etc..which will be a celebration.

not having to sit up working until the small hours after the kids are in bed, not missing out on my telly programmes (bear behaving badly does not count as quality telly) and not sending the dcs and dh out at weekends while I do statistics and pour over the computer will be a wonderful reward!! Its been such a long, knackering slog........

Yes - I'd really like my weekends back. It really has been a long slog hasn't it? I've never worked on anything as long as this.

Children aren't allowed at graduation here. I actually don't think I'll go to the ceremony.

I think I'd like to throw a party. Hopefully it will be around my bday (insert much fantasizing as carrot dangling).

no dc aren't allowed to go in to ours but my mum and dad (he is so proud) want to come along and the in-laws (although they won't all get tickets, so a couple are coming in with dh and the grannies are playing with the kids..)
I didn't really want to go but now its nearing the end I feel like its going to somehow finalise it all, which i certainly need, and my dad would be gutted if he didn't get to see me graduate. He was the one person I wouldn't have been able to face if I'd decided to quit when it got tough.

fingers crossed for the birthday deadline..xxxxx..you are going to get there

Yes I think it's different if you have other family who want to go.

Forgive me if I've asked you this before, but what do you plan/hope to do next?

How many pages, yummy - is it worth setting a daily quota to get through? Bloody well done with 2 dcs, btw - I found it hard enough with just me.

I need to write up a few papers as I've some good data and then I'm thinking about post-doc or consultancy work. The final push writing the discussion was really hard, it really took over and although I was exhausted I really enjoyed it, I was and am still excited by my results and possible impact..however...I do have serious doubts at how I'd combine a successful academic career with 2dc...can't somehow see me being offered a permanent p/t lecturing/research position....or am i being unduly negative?

My thesis is 340 pages long, daily quotas work both ways and would make me feel fantastic and equally crap and useless. The entire nature of the thing means its very hard to know how long things should take and then being able to stick to it. Your supervisor should be able to help you with a realistic plan....but when it comes down to it I think they forget...many of the processes involved in writing a thesis are new. I feel like a quite organised, get on with it type of person but I'd tackle it in a much more holistic way if I had to do it again.Its true what they say..its a learning tool and exercise to make you a researcher...

I did have to set deadlines in the end and then broke it down into really small things, but you have to build in some flexibility for the evenings you can't turn on the computer, or when dc's are ill etc..

I nearly missed my viva, ds1 was really ill all night, dh was going to drive me (as uni about 3 hrs away) ended up catching a train at the last minute...like an emotional rollarcoaster.

How far to go now? You are my inspiration - im hoping to submit in july and have two little ones - a 2 year old and a newborn to be precise. Am too longing to have evenings and weekends back and to get rid of that feeling that you always have something to do...even when you have time off its just still there isnt it...it doesnt ever go away until you complete.

There are part time permanent academic positions if you are lucky. I have a part time tutoring position which in my particular department is basically a non researching lecturer paid on a similar scale

xxx

I have to hand in a week on monday (absolute final deadline), if its to be bound in time....
..dh has just printed off the final draft and we are checking all the cross-references, page numbers etc....it is almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(won't go on about the stupid things track changes has done when swapping the documents from my computer to the one where we print off....at least I've noticed now...)

So true about it always hanging over you....keep going though..it is hard with such little ones..but it is worth it

good to hear that you've got some work..my dh works in the middle of nowhere which means my opportunities are very limited, and we wouldn't really want to move, as dh has a good, enjoyable job etc...but I haven't really begun to look at my options yet..so fingers crossed!

good luck with the final steps. I am madly envious as I am still in redrafting and finding it a real challenge! Hope to finish by Mar 1- argh!!

Sorry to hijack but Just found this topic area - 'student parents' - this is where I belong! Just started PhD, am lecturing and have 2 small Dcs. Will watch with interest!

(I didn't know where I belonged on mumsnet up until now - even thought about getting a chicken just to join the chicken keepers group!)

Good luck Yummy. I have soooo long to go.

OMG have just found 117 references that I've used and that are not in my reference list!!!!! have an hour and a half without the dcs......................er...don't hold your breath!

thank goodness they didn't notice during the viva!

i have two lovely boxes of printed paper sitting on my table, just a couple more hours tidying and inserting diagrams and its done!!!