Good friends and a knock upside the head

After my last post, I was still feeling like maybe I should drop out of the program. I mean, if people think I'm getting a "fake" doctorate, then why in the world am I doing it?

Then, I got a text from one of my dearest friends who DID NOT KNOW what had happened at school:

"...you have worked hard to be on the right path, stay there...you should feel special because you are, and I wouldn't do that for just anyone..."

In a world of chaos, sometimes it only takes one person to keep you on track. So, nope, not quitting!

Thoughts..

I've really been struggling with my decision to be a doc student lately.

Especially since a conversation I had last week.  I was approached by a colleague (site and name will not be revealed), that, in short story format, wondered if I was working towards a "fake" doctorate since it wasn't a Ph.D.  I calmly attempted to explain the types of programs my university offers, including the different types of doctoral degrees:  my university offers Ph.D.s, M.D.s, Psy.D.s, and Ed.D.s.  Each form of these doctoral degrees have purpose within their own fields, each are terminal degrees.

So, I'm thinking--I'm I really busting my butt, going without sleep, giving up on fun things like ice cream and TV ;) for a degree people will see as "fake?"  Or not good enough?  Cause, really, I don't need something else on my plate telling me I'm not good enough.  People do that, to my many different hats, often enough already.

Guilty Ambition

This school year has been agonizing.  My son and my daughter have suffered terribly.  Both have experienced extreme stress and emotional issues at school.  I have asked myself so many times if I am to blame for their issues?  If only I was home more and more attentive rather than in class or working on schoolwork, I would have prevented all the pain they have experienced.  It really is difficult to feel so guilty about your children and think you should have done a better job at protecting them.  I logical understand that sometimes, kids have rough times and even if I was home 24/7 I might not have been able to prevent the problems.  That information is small consolation when my children are having such a tough time.  I think sometimes about quitting school until the kids are completely through school but then I know I will not finish.  Would it help anyway?  Who knows?  I know I don't.