When I tell my colleagues that I'm going to be a dad soon, the usual reaction is "family comes before research" or "babies are better than science". This is indeed a nice advice... but it's noteworthy that it doesn't go without saying for researchers. #AcademicChatter
Thanks @elmerot !
I would rather say that I tend to avoid the kind of colleagues who would first ask if my wife can make time to raise the kids. But yes, overall, I have nice colleagues!
@elmerot
Regarding the balance between work and family life, I have asked the question around in the lab. The usual response was that it's difficult in the first 3 years, but that you learn to organize your work differently. What's your opinion?
@leovarnet Depends on the kid(s). Of course, first you need to adjust your life (we had fixed meal times from the start, which has been a life saver; we now have it in our spines when we need to start cooking, or ordering if eating out). Then it depends on the intensity of the kid; totally different if it's a sports type or a library type (or in between).
@leovarnet You have good colleagues, it seems! Re: kids, a friend told.me.that the only people they knew who managed work and kids well, were the ones who only worked 75 %. My own experience agrees.
Hope everything goes well at birth!
#academicchatter