We are two weeks into June, three weeks into hearing “Mom, I am bored” at least 6 times a day. This summer my days are a little busier than normal, not only am I working full time and making lunch and 42 snacks during the day, I am also back in school as a graduate student—pursuing my M. Ed in Digital Learning.
I feel like a magician trying to juggle a 40+ hour a week job, a household, trying to make family memories, and squeezing in coursework wherever I can… I’m operating beyond max capacity and mom guilt is real. You do know, you only get 18 summers before you kids are off to college. June is the busiest month in Graduate Medical Education, we graduate a new class of Medical Oncologist (usually 14 physicians) all while onboarding 14 new fellows who will start on July 1st. Vacation is not an option for me until mid-July. We had our graduation ceremony last night and it was great, but it’s just another box to check in June. We usually have our gradation the third week of June, I also chose to have a baby on June 20th, so every year I hold my breath and pray that graduation doesn’t land on her big day! The last time it fell on her birthday, it was her 5th birthday and she spent the day with my parents out on the boat. It was great until she almost lost her toe! She stepped on a fish cleaning board and had a pretty bad cut on her toe. I got a call to meet them in Galveston at UTMB, ever since then I’ve not missed her birthday. Mom guilt gets you every time, she’s 16 and hasn’t let me forget the time she lopped off her toe!
I knew I wanted to go back to school, it’s been in the back of my mind for a few years, but the time never seemed right. I tried it when COVID hit, I was one class in, and my husband got deployed to the boarder. With him being gone, transitioning to a work from home job since I was nonessential at the hospital and a 4th grader trying to zoom with her class what could go wrong! Well, let me tell you… not only did my stress shoot through the roof, I picked up a new habit stuttering! While my life, for the most part, has returned to normal and the stress is back in check the stuttering stuck around. It only comes out when I’m under stress, so I am waiting for it to make an appearance any day. I say all to let you know I went into this eyes wide open this time. I sat down with a calendar and planned out the classes I would need to complete the degree. I investigated tuition reimbursement at work and planned out the best schedule I could to maximize my reimbursement dollars. I plan to power through and be through and be done within the next 11 months. I am going into it with an open mind, a growth mindset. Each course is only eight weeks long. And you know what? You can do anything for eight weeks. That’s my mantra. I’m approaching this journey with a growth mindset, a whole lot of caffeine, and a flexible sense of humor.
It’s not easy. Some days it feels like too much. But it’s something I’m doing for me—and for my family. To grow, to learn, to model resilience and dedication for my kid, and to ultimately help shape the future of digital education. In the past year I feel fellowship has moved in a positive direction. I’ve taken on new task, gained new leadership and feel that I’ve done a great job in keeping up with all the changes. Moving forward, I’d like to become more involved and be able to provide more feedback to keep advancing our fellowship forward.
So here I am—knee-deep in sunscreen, student life, summer stress, and snack-making—but still moving forward.
One day at a time. One course at a time.
And yes, one snack at a time.
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