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Transcript

EP 5: NINE Kids and Tenure! | Prof. Patrick Lee (Franciscan U)

Climbing the academic ladder with a big family

Description

This is Episode #5 of the Anscombe’s Juggle podcast for parent-scholars looking to balance the demands of parenthood and academia. In this episode, philosophy professor Patrick Lee explains how he persevered on the job market to obtain an endowed chair, all while raising nine—yes, nine—children. From his early days working odd jobs and hours, Patrick tells us what he did (and, just as importantly, what he avoided) to achieve long-term professional and familial stability.

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

1:50 – Planning schedules with breaks

2:25 – Working additional jobs as an early career scholar

5:15 – Small towns and cost of living

6:16 – Schedules as a young family (wee-hour work periods and naps)

9:48 – How your children’s development changes your schedule

11:25 – How your own age changes your schedule

13:10 – Schedules as a senior scholar with grown children

15:04 – How far seniority lets you dictate your schedule

16:57 – Schedules during sabbaticals and summers

17:23 – Finding time for recreation and rest

19:22 – Knowing when less effort is more and not teaching too much

21:07 – The importance of rest

22:30 – Discerning how much time to spend with kids

23:54 – Facing financial pressures

30:30 – What having a really big family is like

33:07 – Challenges when both parents work full-time

36:33 – Establishing long-term stability

38:18 – Prioritizing research over extra teaching

39:54 – One last piece of advice on imposter syndrome

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