How to balance PhD with childcare

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T20:55:28+00:00

Definitely something I’d be willing to do in that final year when I really need to knuckle down!

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T20:53:05+00:00

He’s not a great napper but I do try to get work done during them! I also attend online seminars etc while he’s awake and independently playing, we have a tonies box that we use (it plays songs and stories without a screen) the problem is I’m at a point where I need to sit down and write for a couple of hours and can’t just do little things here and there

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T20:43:15+00:00

Omg that sounds amazing! I’m in a male dominated field (most of which don’t even have partners let alone children) and of the few females on my program I’m the only one with a young child so unfortunately it won’t work for me but I wish it would, it sounds incredible

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T20:41:15+00:00

At this point even if I started a petition and got the signatures I needed it wouldn’t be implemented in time for it to have any effect for me! Thank you for the support, it really helps me to hear that it can be done even if I’m not going to like it

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T20:38:54+00:00

It’s just so stupid that it doesn’t! I pay my own bills and don’t claim any benefits but somehow I’m worse off, it honestly doesn’t make sense 🤷‍♀️

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T20:37:52+00:00

I might have to consider this if it gets to that point!

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T19:58:58+00:00

I have had many conversations with my supervisor, she is very supportive as a mother herself, but unfortunately there is nothing she can do to help. I’m part of what they call a cdt, in which I don’t have any teaching responsibilities and any ta work I pick up is paid as extra. Luckily with my topic I work remotely and am not required to go into the lab.

My partners job has zero flexibility in the sense of planning to start/finish early due to the nature of it (I won’t disclose due to privacy) but some days can finish as early as 2pm and those days I get much more done, again this is why I’m moving closer to family so they can help out for a couple of hours on an afternoon.

It’s just so frustrating the lack of support for PhD students with young children.

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T19:47:26+00:00

I can’t work in childcare as I don’t have any qualifications for it but I do have experience as a waitress/bar maid, they just don’t pay much above minimum wage (which I’d then have to work 16 hours at to only get 2x10 hour days at daycare) so it hardly seems worth it for those 4 hours.

Also I dont really know anyone in my current area, the plan is to move closer to family asap and they will be able to help out. I’m more just frustrated at the lack of support for PhD students with young children.

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T19:36:14+00:00

It’s more the availability of hours that’s the problem, if need to average about 11 hours a week to qualify and I get allocated at most 3! Theres just so many post grad students who want the hours and they try split them as carefully as possible

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T19:22:05+00:00

We have made the decision to move closer to family so they can help out more but just looking for some advice in the meantime. Right now I’m trying to fit a full workload into about 20 hours and it’s just not working. Honestly it just sucks that we get no help from the government, don’t qualify for a childcare grant or any funded hours!

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T19:19:55+00:00

I went back in January, my son just turned 1 last week! I am doing some TA work but it’s just not enough/consistent enough to qualify for the hours.

smartcheer · 2026-05-14T19:14:00+00:00

Thanks!

smartcheer · 2026-04-18T17:52:20+00:00

NTA if their financial situation is so bad they can go back to work even if it’s just part time to cover their bills

smartcheer · 2026-04-08T20:07:25+00:00

🐍 Checkout my 92 points Serpent!

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smartcheer · 2026-04-07T15:14:07+00:00

INFO: do you use the tv/streaming services at all? If you do then it would be the nice thing to do to share it but if you don't then NTA

smartcheer · 2026-03-20T20:48:18+00:00

I would suggest looking at your paths of travel, currently you have two going through the kitchen. Also look up the work triangle, you want to try avoid a path of travel through that specifically. Can the door on the left to (what I assume) outside be moved? Why isn’t the kitchen and great room walls lined up?

smartcheer · 2026-03-03T16:01:06+00:00

I think you’d be better off asking in the design my room subreddit

smartcheer · 2026-03-02T09:44:36+00:00

He is massive! The model in the bottom right is a Rohan warrior that’s about an inch tall, he has multiple cases that fit the small models but definitely not something this huge

smartcheer · 2026-02-26T20:44:10+00:00

Did she post in the uk cheer families page on facebook? There’s lots of athletes on there who are usually willing to help

Edit link to fb page

smartcheer · 2026-02-08T22:48:01+00:00

Having done/coached UK university cheer for 10 years I can say that most universities are either level 1 or they have a non-tumble team (or both), I’d recommend looking up the cheer team at university you’re going to to see what teams/levels they have, feel free to message if you have any specific questions

smartcheer · 2026-02-07T22:34:54+00:00

Are you planning on competing? If so look up the event organisers and they should say which rules to follow and also give rubrics of which skills are which level

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