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A Day in the Life of a Working Mom Pursuing a PhD

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.

by RAKI WRIGHT

Every day this month, I will be featuring an interview with a working mom just like you. It’s called A Day in the Life of a Working Mom.

We’ll learn about what she does for work, her family life, and….her tips/tricks for getting everything done.

danielle

Today’s featured Working Mom is Danielle!

Tell us about your family (married, significant other, children’s ages, etc.).

I’m married and I have a 3 ½ year old son.

Where do you live?

I’m a Midwesterner girl living in Atlanta.

What do you do for a living?

I’m currently pursuing a PhD in English, but my grammar still sucks. I teach writing classes at the post-secondary level (in-person and online) and I also run a small crochet business, Hook Smart.

How do you fit blogging into the mix (if it’s not your “day job”)?

Blogging started as an outlet to document the changes in my life as I adjusted to being a mamademic (mom and academic).

What is your typical day like?

My son goes to preschool three mornings a week, so I try to get the bulk of my writing and grading done when he’s in school. On his off days, I try to do an activity with him after breakfast and then let him play independently, so I can do smaller projects. This doesn’t always work, so I’ll nap with him in the afternoon and then I have the energy to stay up and work after he’s in bed for the night.

What’s the best thing about being a working mom?

Still having an identity separate from being a mom and wife. I was really worried that my life would become all about my husband and son. I’m glad I’ve found a way to balance it.

What’s the hardest thing?

The times when I want to spend time with the family, but I really need to finish grading a stack of papers or writing a paper.

Do you experience guilt associated with being a working mom?

Absolutely! Every time I have to teach an evening class and my son is sick and wants me to stay home. Or the days when I let him watch Netflix for hours just so I can meet a deadline.

How do you handle day to day responsibilities (meals, laundry, cleaning, chauffeuring kids, Dr. appointments, school meetings, etc.)?

My husband and I try to share the responsibilities as much as possible. I’m definitely the default parent because my schedule is more flexible, but my husband picks up the slack in the evenings and on the weekends. We also try to schedule appointments for weekends, so that we can both attend. We’re also big fans of outsourcing tasks, so we use Blue Apron for half of our weekly meals and then depending on how stressed I am he picks up dinner the other days. Team work makes the dream work.

What are your top 3 – 5 tips for keeping everything together? 

1. Make a long term daily schedule and stick to it. So, what do you do every day at the same time? Don’t change those things unless it’s an emergency.

2. Make a weekly plan and stick to it. I sit down with my planner every Sunday or Monday morning and write out everything I need to do that week. Once I finish, I spread all the tasks out over several days and get it done.

3. Work smarter, not harder. This means outsourcing some tasks, delegating responsibilities, and asking for help.

4. Deliberate multi-tasking. What two tasks can you complete at the same time? For example, I clean the sinks and toilets while giving my son a bath.

5. Say no, often. Ask yourself if the added task or invitation out is worth the additional stress? Will it ruin your schedule?

Guilty pleasures?

Netflix binges.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that you think would encourage other working moms?

Make time for yourself at least once or twice a month. Do something that’s just for you–not work or for the family.

Where You Can Find Danielle:
Website: www.mamademics.com or www.hooksmart.etsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mamademics or www.facebook.com/hooksmart
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mamademics
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mamademics

What was helpful that you can apply to your work mom life?

Let me know in the comments below. If you have an extra moment, head over to give that working mom some love!

Subscribe to receive emails to be notified as the posts in the series are published. Read other posts in A Day in the Life of a Working Mom series.

If YOU would like to be featured, send an email to raki at outsidetheboxmom dot com. If all of the October spots have been filled, I will feature your interview in a continued series.

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of another working mom is like? Every day this month, I will be featuring an interview with a working mom just like you.

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Filed Under: Mom Tagged With: 31 Days, 31 Days in the Life of a Working Mom, A Day in the Life of a Working Mom

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Welcome! I'm Raki. I am a working mom of 2 (22-year old son and 15-year old daughter). I share tips to balance work, family, and make time for you. More...

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