PST

Thanks, guys! Your suggestions (I have considered a closet, for real) help. I do have an office at work, but I was trying not to spend more time there than I already do. My son really needs to know I am going to in the house after work, and my spouse is the stay-at-home parent, so I guess I just need to have another talk about "do not disturb." Emotionally complicated stuff, as usual, from parent-spouse-professor-doctoral candidate land. I wouldn't change anything about my life, but if one can manage it, youth is the time for such academic shenanigans . . .

Does anyone writing a thesis or dissertation primarily at home have creative approaches to finding a writing space in a house shared with family? I love them dearly; I just can't seem to find a place to get utter isolation unless everyone else is asleep. Thanks!

My thanks to all! The extension to international students is something I did not consider. What a great point! Many of my friends in this program were from countries outside North America and found the transition daunting. Taking ownership is indeed a tough implementation. I am learning, and the responses here have helped.

Yup, at my university, the director arranges everything, and the this director plus the self-recused person forgot the specifics of the situation. To be fair, they are overloaded with committee work, and I am not angry. And there is no question in my post because I have no question about this issue; my goal is just to encourage grad students who might be of my vintage and academic-historical context to be more productively assertive than we may have been "brought up" to be. Just thought this would be a place where people could relate. If I am wrong, please let me know. Thanks!

Long story, but the gist is that my dissertation committee, revolving door with members leaving The University of the Usual for other jobs, met with me yesterday for my proposal defense, and one of the people there forgot (as did my director) that she had recused herself after comps (not a scholar in my field, really), so one of my REAL committee member was not invited to the defense. I teach and serve on committees aplenty; I get that stuff happens. However, this particular "oops" led to a deep confusion, of course, and also to a proposal defense that became dominated by the person who wasn't sure why she was there. Okay, so here's where the culture of my first higher-education experiences comes into play. I am a somewhat non-traditional student -- age, years teaching, and life experience. The makings of this student are for another post, but the outcome of my proposal defense (which is going to be okay; ABD on its way with a few changes to the research topic abstract) is deeply connected to how I was "brought up" in academia. I was taught not to question, and continuing not to do so is my bad. I assumed (add cliché here) that the change in my committee was a political move I should not question and that two PhD-bearing, experienced professors would not make a mistake so BIG. Always challenge something "hinky" is what I learned. The climate and culture of graduate studies has changed since my first era in college, and I have to adapt. I teach at a community college and am delighted to do so. My students are for the most part bright and respectful. Nonetheless, if I make a mistake with a due date or any manner of class business, they will point it out to me. I am glad that they do. I have a great deal to learn from them.

Many thanks to my fellow travelers and to those who already have been to this point and have overcome it! T-1 and counting.

I really needed those words. Thank you!

Just had to find a relevant place to vent: PhD proposal defense tomorrow, copies all out to committee, and I re-read, like a masochistic eejit, and found a STUPID typo--silly proofreading error--subject-verb agreement--ahhhhhhrggggggh! That is all. I will be ashamed of this error until and after I conference call for my defense (again, tomorrow). Others probably exist within the depths of the proposal, but I am not looking again. For the cherry on top, I had already sent a second version out about a fortnight ago just as an "fyi" with another error noted (so they would not have to locate it) and corrected. No WAY am I sending a third version. Spouse talked me out of it, if I'm honest, and confirmed that it might just annoy the committee. Crap. PST