It's All in the Bag

By CORINNE BENNET

Teaching part time sometimes makes a Ph.D. feel like a failure, but it also allows her life as a parent to work

Two summers ago, I found the perfect handbag at a garage sale. It was leather and looked professional and was just the right size for a small notebook, a conference program, and a paperback book.

Recently I realized it was also the perfect size for a couple of diapers, some wipes, a sippy cup, and a pacifier. My perfect conference bag now masquerades as a perfect