Virtual Oases, June 10

I LOVED, LOVED the article on Mama, Phd’s. It’s exactly what I was looking for as I figure out my next ‘epoch’ in life. I’m actually already Dr. Kiri Close, and don’t have children yet.

But I am determined to get into a great law school with the possibility of an MBA back out East, and since that won’t work out for me until another year or two from now, Rob and I plan on trying to be pregnant about this November (conceiving). By the time we’re back East for the last leg of our schooling, i will be a mommy in full swing with 1 or 2 babies in tow by then.

So I’ve been trying to work out in my head and heart what a Phd mommy will look like at law&business school.

The money will actually not be an issue from our end since Rob is an RN (though he would like to head back to Boston to attend school to be a Nurse Practitioner the same time i would like to be in school which would only take him another 3-4 semesters at some institutions there).

We are both dreading not just the workload of both of us in school simultaneously, but also the debt–which currently, I’ve been seeking scholarships and grants to be able to fund much of my own law&b-school aspirations. Rob’s paycheck as a nurse (even while going to school!) will not make me eligible for much or any financial aid. At the same time, we don’t want to pay for most (or all) of it out of pocket.

Any suggestions for this? These dreams of ours is another reason why we needed to exhale and relax and take care of the current little school debt we have in a small, quiet town. ‘Cause when the heat gets turned on our return to school, it’s gonna shake us and we’ll be running hard again one final time.

would love to hear any suggestions from those who experienced grad school with kids!