Category Archives: writing

Reflections on Mama, PhD

Posted on June 7, 2013 by rglw

My husband bought me Mama, PhD as a graduation gift. He thought I would appreciate the stories about “motherhood and academic life.”  In under a week, I tore through the anthology.  Divided into four sections, the editors captured women’s stories … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, family, fatherhood, gender equality, grad school, higher education, kids, lessons learned, marriage, motherhood, parenthood, reading, women, work, writing | 78 Comments

Ease in….

Posted on June 4, 2013 by rglw

A year ago, a dear friend encouraged me to join her in a “Couch to 5K” running program. Before I had my kids, I ran for exercise, but I was hardly a “runner.” Never terribly “sporty,” I have been trying … Continue reading →

Posted in dissertation, grad school, health, lessons learned, personal, reading, work, writing | 2 Comments

Back to basics: reading, writing…

Posted on May 29, 2013 by rglw

Last week I ended my long-standing graduate school relationship. This transition has been both easy and challenging for me. I have always known that I am a workaholic but I never realized the extent of the addiction.  It feels awkward … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, lessons learned, reading, work, writing | 7 Comments

Now what?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by rglw

When you have been actively engaged in accomplishing one specific task for an extended period of time and you actually achieve your goal or finish that project, the next day feels both exhilarating and confusing. On Monday, I filed all … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, coffee, family, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, work, writing | 2 Comments

Discovering I’m a reluctant (and proud) dance mom

Posted on May 21, 2013 by rglw

As spring approached, some local friends began signing their preschoolers up for activities.  My husband and I decided to sign the girls up for a round of swim lessons because we consider swimming to be an important life skill.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in family, gender equality, kids, lessons learned, motherhood, parenthood, socialization, writing | 1 Comment

The defense in the rear-view mirror

Posted on May 9, 2013 by rglw

On Tuesday, I defended my dissertation project.  In the course of writing and editing and re-editing my project, I have heard many platitudes about the dissertation experience, and I have to admit that I was pretty tired of the rhetoric. … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, dissertation, grad school, lessons learned, personal, work, writing | 3 Comments

When you report to yourself….

Posted on April 12, 2013 by rglw

Some days, you tick off a list of to do items and you sit back at the end of the day and marvel at your productivity. For me, that was this past Monday and Tuesday.  It seems Friday has a … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, coffee, health, lessons learned, personal, procrastinating, work, writing | Leave a comment

When what you were writing becomes what you wrote

Posted on April 2, 2013 by rglw

March was a blur.  February was a blur, too. I was teaching, polishing off the “final” draft of my dissertation, making presentations at a regional conference, and keeping myself afloat (and my personal life from coming apart at the seams). … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, dissertation, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, teaching, work, writing | 2 Comments

Surfacing

Posted on February 28, 2013 by rglw

During the semester, there are rarely any un-busy moments.  At the start of the semester, I am usually crafting my syllabus until the last possible moment.  Or, I am hastily tying up loose odds and ends from a project or … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, coffee, dissertation, grad school, higher education, kids, lessons learned, marriage, personal, writing | 6 Comments

Hurry up and hurry up again

Posted on January 25, 2013 by rglw

Two weeks ago, I started this post on due dates and deadlines, and had finally settled on “Hurry up and wait” for the title because it captured the pacing of academic work.  Until this past week, my academic work followed … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, dissertation, grad school, higher education, teaching, writing | 2 Comments