Dear Black Mother Scholar: Reflections on Caregiving and the Dissertation Journey
A Mother’s Day Offering from Write Your Dissertation, Sis
At Write Your Dissertation, Sis, we’re committed to supporting Black women in building a dissertation journey rooted in care, community, and connection. That includes creating space where Black mothers are seen, supported, and held.
This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating Black mother scholars across our community—their insight, their commitment, and the ways they move through caregiving and scholarship with deep intention. We’re centering their reflections here as an offering to other Black mothers navigating this journey.
We asked Black Mother Scholars from our January and July Cohorts: What advice would you give to another Black mother navigating caregiving while completing her dissertation?
Here’s what they shared:
“Give yourself grace and permission to slow down. Some days you’ll pour more into your work, and other days into your children—and that’s okay. Ask for help and redefine productivity on your own terms. Your caregiving and your scholarship aren’t in conflict; they are both acts of love, resistance, and legacy-building. It’s not about perfect balance—it’s about showing up with love, even when it’s hard. Your children aren’t a distraction from your work; they’re a reason for it.”
— Dr. Miranda Allen (Defended March 2025, PhD in STEM Education, Texas Tech University)
“Release yourself from last week’s, yesterday’s, and the previous hour’s expectations. Surrender your energy to the task and time in front of you. Intentionally steward your writing time, even if it’s only 20 minutes between naps. Each word written is a seed planted, and you and your descendants will eat from the fruit of your labor.”
— Dr. Destiny Williams-Dobosz (Defended April 2025, PhD in Educational Psychology, UIUC)
“Sis—encourage yourself, speak victory over yourself, and know that God is your present help. This journey requires perseverance and resilience, and you’ve earned your place in it; our ancestors are oh so proud of you. Celebrate every milestone, and when life interrupts your plans (and it will), honor your feelings, then get back to it so you don't lose momentum. Surround yourself with a community that pours into you, offering the encouragement, motivation, and inspiration you need to keep your eyes on the prize.”
— Danielle D. Cooper, PhD Candidate in Curriculum and Teaching, Northcentral University
“You deserve to pour from a full cup so that you can graduate whole and well. Each day, consider compiling a top 3 that includes one action to support your wellbeing, one to care for your loved one(s), and one to move your dissertation forward.”
— Asya Spears, PhD Candidate, RAND School of Public Policy
Black mother scholars—we see you. We’re here for you. You deserve to be held. We’re so honored to walk alongside you in this work. Thank you for showing up for your families, your communities, and your scholarship.
Happy Mother’s Day, Sis!
