<p>I had a baby the second year I was employed. I had completed my PhD. I had been divorced several years earlier because my ex-H didn’t want children. I put that energy into completing my dissertation and becoming employed. I was lucky enough to be hired into a very supportive department (an English Dept.) that had many female faculty members.</p>
<p>The women in my department encouraged me to have a baby (without a husband!) and promised support.</p>
<p>As I pursued this (my doctor told me it was now or never because of fibroids) I eventually acquired a daughter, a husband, a son and tenure in that order.</p>
<p>It was difficult to raise tiny children and support a career. I did take some contract guaranteed time off (without pay) and came back and earned tenure.</p>