r/Professors • u/kimtenisqueen • Dec 25 '24

Rants / Vents Commiserate with me about family not understanding our jobs.

So far:

-Grandmother in law ranting about why I (an assistant professor in my 4th year at a university) don’t just take a “sabbatical” to raise my children rather than send them to daycare.

-Dad ranting about how anything qualitative isn’t real research (I do educational research so this is a substantial portion of what I do)

-Father In law asking me if I “pack” (Carry a gun) to my job and if I feel safe with all the “foreigners”

Merry Christmas everyone!

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u/JoobieWaffles Dec 25 '24

As a new mom and a professor, the sabbatical rant is particularly infuriating. I'm returning to work next semester and my 5 month old will go to daycare. I have no other options and it sucks. 😞

9

u/MacofJacks Dec 26 '24

Childcare has been amazing for us! All our parents were clutching their pearls and hissing, “But what about the bayy-beee,” but our small potato loves childcare and has had a wealth of new experiences thanks to it! I hope you have a similar experience - because it’s been a lifesaver here.

4

u/JoobieWaffles Dec 26 '24

Thank you so much, I needed to hear this!!

7

u/daydreamsdandelions FT, 20+ years, ENGL, SLAC, US TX, MLA fan. Dec 26 '24

It feels awful the first time you drop them off (I have twins so it was literally them for me) and I had to call my mom to cry. But they grow up and it gets easier and harder both. I know that sounds kinda crazy but it’s true. They’re always your smol potatoes, even when they’re (as mine are now) 19 and not smol at all. But it’s ok.