The Seven Year Itch

My mother likes to talk about how we have a new body every seven years (she's mostly referring to weight gain as women age). But it seems like an apt metaphor for my life more generally. I was in grad school for seven years, and by the beginning of that last year I was stir crazy, watching all my friends get jobs and get married and have babies. I felt like I was stuck. I was done with being a grad student, desperately ready to move on to the next phase of my life (for me, that was getting a tenure track job and trying to have a baby).

I've been out of school now for seven years, and if I'd stayed at my job, I'd be tenured. Because I moved and accepted a new position, I have a few years yet before I'll meet that professional milestone. But I feel it in my body, and I see it on my CV. I am done being an assistant professor. I have multiple book manuscripts looking for publishers. I'm actively trying to have another child. My department chair has already spoken to me about an administrative position after I get promoted. I'm ready, oh so ready, for the next phase of my life to start. I feel like I'm in limbo--a 2ww that will go on indefinitely--just waiting for something to happen. I've done all I can. Now I'm just biding my time...