A Workaholic’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Life

My daughter, Alex, was born three years into my PhD program, smack in the middle of midterms. I was at a coffee shop, scrambling to complete a take-home exam, when my contractions started. I told myself I would continue until they were consistent, which bought me several more hours, until the pain was unbearable. I reluctantly stopped working and headed home (and shortly thereafter to the hospital).