Social worker taking care of grandfather decides to get his PhD after aunt demands he only be taken care of by a doctor: ‘I'm getting my doctorate just to spite her’

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Got my doctorate

My stepdad has a much larger age gap with his siblings, which makes my aunt about the same age as me. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in veterinary medicine, and good for her. I
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earned a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) because that was all I needed at the time for my career, and I had a lot going on in my life.
Fast forward several years: my grandfather, who was a veteran, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and needed all the help he could get. I was helping him navigate the
VA, Medicare, home health services, and other aspects of his care. As a veteran myself, I was already familiar with the VA, and as a master's- level social worker, I knew a thing or two about coordinating these services.
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In the middle of all of this, my aunt started arguing with me. She insisted that someone with a "Doctor" title should really be in charge,
even though she was fighting against her own father's wishes and making the situation much more difficult.
I finally said, "You know what? I'm getting my doctorate just to spite her." My grandfather was so proud that he bragged about it to the whole family.
My greatest achievement wasn't just earning my Doctor of Social Work (D.S.W.); it was that my grandfather was able to see me graduate and that I was able to help care for him at the end of his life.
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PeorgieT75 Should have told her you'd let her know if your grandfather needed deworming.
_anotherstarrynight_ Congratulations! I also got a doctorate out of spite 10/10 would do it again. Also I think it's lovely that you did this to help your grandfather. You're good people.
TurbulentDebate6685 Is this the spite doctorate support group? I've been looking all over for you guys! My husband told me I was too old (36), over the hill, I would never make it and I would never make a major contribution to the literature. Ahem: PhD, 8 textbooks, and Professor Emerita.
burnermcburnerstein with social workers is picking fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.
Like 80% of the skill set is engaging with dysfunctional systems and finding grey areas/loopholes to getting sh done. The other 20% is ability to weaponize underestimation.
Primary-Vehicle7079 Congratulations! This is no small task. I should know. Im about to do my MSW too. Its a ton of work. You did it! Be proud...and spiteful!
Flux_My_Capacitor I'd be like "Aunt Mabel, you look at dog butts all day long. Please sit down."
BellLopsided2502 I have 2 spite degrees as well. Congratulations and cheers!
Sidneyreb Your aunt equates a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine with deep understanding of red tape involving social work? I hope you keep a spray bottle of water handy when she's around, an animal's bad behavior needs to be trained out.

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