Many of our interviewees are mothers as well as scientists. One has three children, and twins on the way. Having worked in industry, she recently finished her PhD. She has found both supportive and unsupportive advisors and managers of both sexes; those with children understood parental pressures and therefore were more supportive. Despite her busy schedule, she is involved in local professional-society activities as well as Girl Scouts.
Another said she had her child by Caesarean section and was back at work in two weeks, because her employer would not allow any more time off.
Asked about her daily schedule, a well-known researcher said, ``I work every waking hour.'' 60- to 80-hour work weeks occur regularly in all scientific disciplines, she said, and she expects this pattern holds for many people through the tenure and promotion years. Science and parenting leave no time to do anything else, such as sports or exercise. She said she feels like a field marshall handling logistics and replanning, or a juggler with plates in the air.
Another interviewee has to contend with long commutes. She said, ``I live three hours from my graduate school so that I can live with my husband and child. I put up with many hours of travel and expensive child care.''
``There is no good time to have a family,'' commented another researcher. ``Life never gets easier (well, maybe during retirement...) Few women who get pregnant in the middle of their studies finish their PhDs, but plenty of men get PhDs while their wives have children. Many women have children first and then go for a PhD...I doubt whether there is much chance for a close family life if both parents are in academia.''
One woman with small children advised other mothers to accept the fact that work comes before family sometimes and that family comes before work sometimes. Unfortunately, the children always get sick just as some deadline is looming at work.
On the other hand, one woman said that having two children did not interrupt her career at all. She was able to continue to work full time, getting adequate support at home and at work.