by TANIA LOMBROZO
PHOTO/Geri Lavrov/Getty Images
Blogger Tania Lombrozo is an academic — and a mom. Here, she gives a window into what that’s like day-to-day.
6:00 a.m. I’m yanked from sleep by the little one calling from her room. “Mommy! Is it time to wake up yet? Can I get up now? Pleeeeeeaaaase?” The answer is “no,” but I get up anyway.
7:00 a.m. The little one wants oatmeal. The big one wants cereal. I just want coffee. I feed the kids, unload the dishwasher, assemble lunches and backpacks and sweaters and water bottles, brush teeth and hair. I am an octopus, all limbs in motion. Is that letter of reference due today?
8:00 a.m. My husband is taking the children to school; I go for a short run. Did my older daughter remember to take her violin to school? Did we forget the sunscreen (again)?
9:00 a.m. I’m finally in my office, a glorious hour of uninterrupted work time ahead. My glorious hour is quickly lost to email. Questions from students, questions from colleagues, questions from strangers, forms that need signatures and additions and approvals. The letter of reference is not due today. But what about that grant report?
10:00 a.m. I’m in a committee meeting. We’re doing something terribly important, but I’ve forgotten what it is. I should review my lecture slides. We make a little progress. Did I RSVP for the birthday party on Saturday? I agree to write up part of a report. I need to buy a good present for a 6-year-old.
11:00 a.m. I’m meeting with a PhD student. And then another. I eat a hasty lunch while we talk. We review ongoing projects, we rejoice over beautiful data, we puzzle over surprises. This is fun. We analyze data and design new experiments. Did I print out that paper I need to review? Did I reschedule the pediatric dentist?
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