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Ph.D.
Yesterday we all had a grand celebration as we marked the end of my formal education (finally). It was the commencement event where my doctoral degree was conferred upon me, thus making me officially Elijah P. Ricks, Ph.D.
It has been quite the journey, and I’m glad to have had so many strong supporters and inspiring people throughout my life, including my parents, Kira, our children, family in El Paso, and so many excellent teachers. We were thrilled to have so many come to celebrate with us this week – we wish only that we could have had more time with them each.
I do feel relieved at times to be done, but those moments are pretty brief as I remember all we have to do during the summer. Kira leaves this week to scope out dwellings, while I hold down the fort with the wee ones. Depending on her success, we will have anywhere between 2 to 8 weeks to get all of our junk to Chicago so that I can begin my new job as an assistant professor of psychology. Hearing people call me “doctor” still sounds weird too. I keep thinking some guy in a black suit is going to run up to me and take away my degree, because I still feel like I have so much to learn. I suppose that’s a good thing.
Hakan has been purposefully walking more on his own, so we are pretty sure that he will be strutting around the place with confidence about the time his first birthday comes along. Carver has been struggling with naps recently: he is transitioning away from naps, but he still needs one by the late afternoon. However, by then it is so late that if he does nap he will be up until all hours of the night, so we usually count on him passing out in the car for a few minutes, just enough to help him last until bedtime without screaming at us about everything. Avey is getting excited for the end of her school year.
Moving adventures to come (ugh).