Growing Up On Campus

I'm (seriously) considering going back to graduate school. This move would be significant for our family for a couple of reasons. First it would mean moving in the next 1-2 years and then again after 4 years or so unless we can find a city where I can go to grad school and then get a job, too.

Second, my children's lives would be very different. Right now I essentially work around their schedules. When things happen, like our babysitting now coming in yesterday, we work around it. I worked into the night, and it was no problem. As an academic, I won't have that kind of flexibility. I'll have to figure out other ways to deal with snow and sick days and those random "teacher planning" days all schools seem to have. Brian and I will have to alternate those days, but more than likely the kids will end up spending time with me on campus.

I'm not sure what it means to grow up on a college campus. It would seem that it somehow skews your view of college. Does it romanticize college to the point that it's no big deal? Does it take something from the experience? Does it give you the impression that *everyone* has an advanced degree? What kind of privilege does it bestow?

Despite the questions, this is something I want to do for my personal fulfillment. I need to go back to graduate school. I need to breathe in the aroma of academia. It's where I belong.