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Managing family responsibilities while in grad school: Perspectives from a panel of Grad Parents

In August 2021, seven panellists and online attendees took part in a webinar, discussing experiences as they juggled parenting and graduate school.

Below, you will find key takeaways and resources generated from the session.

 Key Takeaways

Common challenges

  • Delays on program progress encountered due to COVID-19
  • Challenges of family separation
  • Food and languages – new habits, Canadian style food, kids and parents learning English
  • Challenge of feeling like you aren’t ‘succeeding’ at EVERYTHING. Feeling of a need to compromise (either parenting/or school), how to be patient with self and child
  • Less flexibility with kids compared to without kids
  • Studying with kids is hard (but also motivating)

Strategies

  • Do not compare yourself or your situation with other students.
  • Learn to let go of perfectionist ideals.
  • Explaining your situation to supervisor/professors, has been helpful and supportive (eg., have to pick up kid from school).
  • Have to study at night and childcare during daytime.
  • Ease expectations on yourself – time limits, grades must be balanced with mental health.
  • Need to set very realistic goals for your self – list of tasks may be smaller, but try to hone in, to be as focussed as possible.
  • Two children made it much busier in COVID times – you don’t have the same amount of flexibility that you had before children.
  • Need to be organized and efficient with your time.
  • Village approach – who is your village? Chat groups, friends for support.
  • If appropriate, multitask, such as:
    • attempt to organize calls close together, during times you can take a walk,
    • folding laundry during online seminars.
  • Be open to accepting what others have to offer, getting things second-hand, accept things people are willing to pass along (and pass along to others, too, when you are done).

Resources

McMaster SGS Parenting Leave

Family Programs

Budgeting

Sources of affordable children’s items

Groceries

Childcare

Schools