Comments on: Why I am losing my love of Medicine http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/ Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:47:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Di http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18867 Di Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:58:10 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18867 Hi Meg, I found some info that might be interesting to you! Apparently the AAP is partnering with other fields in Medicine re: reentry into the workforce for MDs. http://www.aap.org/sections/ypn/yp/work_life_balance/wip.html http://www.aap.org/reentry/ RunMicroGirl, Welcome! Glad you found our website and I hope you find inspiration to become a physician! There was/were a hand-full 'non-traditional' students in my med school (including 40+ women, some with kids some without) who found their way - why can't you? :) You voiced concerns about 'leaving your children' - depending on what your motivations and the support of your family - I have found that children only thrive more when they have a happy and fulfilled woman who is their Mother. I did not and still do not object to the fact that my own Mother found a unique path in life while balancing child-rearing with obtaining more education to find a profession (Computer Science). I only love and respect her more. i wish you the best! Other informative sites: <a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/women-physicians-congress/life-balance/explorations-workpractice-options/physician-profiles.shtml" rel="nofollow">Physician Profiles who work part-time or have flexible schedules</a> Hi Meg,

I found some info that might be interesting to you! Apparently the AAP is partnering with other fields in Medicine re: reentry into the workforce for MDs.
http://www.aap.org/sections/ypn/yp/work_life_balance/wip.html
http://www.aap.org/reentry/

RunMicroGirl,
Welcome! Glad you found our website and I hope you find inspiration to become a physician! There was/were a hand-full ‘non-traditional’ students in my med school (including 40+ women, some with kids some without) who found their way – why can’t you? :)
You voiced concerns about ‘leaving your children’ – depending on what your motivations and the support of your family – I have found that children only thrive more when they have a happy and fulfilled woman who is their Mother. I did not and still do not object to the fact that my own Mother found a unique path in life while balancing child-rearing with obtaining more education to find a profession (Computer Science). I only love and respect her more. i wish you the best!

Other informative sites:
Physician Profiles who work part-time or have flexible schedules

]]> By: runmicrogirl http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18835 runmicrogirl Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:48:26 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18835 Wow! what a great find. I am currently a stay at home mom of 3 kids (6, 4, & 10 mos.) but I have yearnings to go to medical school and be a doctor. As much as I believe in raising my children, I am in great need of intellectual stimulation and using my talents. I have most of the prereqs already for med school because of a microbiology degree (from 10 years ago), but I am so worried about leaving my children. Granted, my husband would rearrange his schedule to be home so we wouldn't need a babysitter, but I still feel like I'd be trading or neglecting my role as their mother. From the comments posted here, I think I could prepare to be a doc but put it off so that I can at least get my youngest into kindergarten. Any insight? Wow! what a great find. I am currently a stay at home mom of 3 kids (6, 4, & 10 mos.) but I have yearnings to go to medical school and be a doctor. As much as I believe in raising my children, I am in great need of intellectual stimulation and using my talents. I have most of the prereqs already for med school because of a microbiology degree (from 10 years ago), but I am so worried about leaving my children. Granted, my husband would rearrange his schedule to be home so we wouldn’t need a babysitter, but I still feel like I’d be trading or neglecting my role as their mother. From the comments posted here, I think I could prepare to be a doc but put it off so that I can at least get my youngest into kindergarten. Any insight?

]]> By: Meg http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18825 Meg Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:31:30 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18825 I am a physician and a mom who thinks about quitting and staying home with my kids every day. I really feel my most important job is to be my children's mother. I am lucky enough to have found part-time work only 2 days a week, but there are trade-offs. I am not working with the most ideal patient population and definitely suffer from burn-out. Its very scary to think of leaving medicine all together...any thoughts out there as to the real feasibility of getting a job after being away for 2 or 3 years? I am a physician and a mom who thinks about quitting and staying home with my kids every day. I really feel my most important job is to be my children’s mother. I am lucky enough to have found part-time work only 2 days a week, but there are trade-offs. I am not working with the most ideal patient population and definitely suffer from burn-out. Its very scary to think of leaving medicine all together…any thoughts out there as to the real feasibility of getting a job after being away for 2 or 3 years?

]]> By: Di http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18820 Di Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:39:46 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18820 Bonnie, I really appreciate you sharing your experience! My mom was a working mom and even though my sisters and I didn't mind our circumstances (much like your own children), I know my mom had some feelings about wanting to be at home. The idea of our children being in the care of someone else and being mistreated - that is a genuine fear of my own. I'm sorry to hear your kids had to experience anything like it. I agree - trying to have it all at one time may not actually work well. Everything has a season. I'm just curious - looking back, what would you do differently (not trying to pry). Did you work full-time always or were there part-time moments? One of the reasons I chose the field of Medicine I did was the flexibility in finding part-time work. Thanks again for your thoughts! Bonnie, I really appreciate you sharing your experience! My mom was a working mom and even though my sisters and I didn’t mind our circumstances (much like your own children), I know my mom had some feelings about wanting to be at home.

The idea of our children being in the care of someone else and being mistreated – that is a genuine fear of my own. I’m sorry to hear your kids had to experience anything like it.

I agree – trying to have it all at one time may not actually work well. Everything has a season. I’m just curious – looking back, what would you do differently (not trying to pry). Did you work full-time always or were there part-time moments? One of the reasons I chose the field of Medicine I did was the flexibility in finding part-time work.

Thanks again for your thoughts!

]]> By: bonnie http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18816 bonnie Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:23:28 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18816 I feel your pain. I am not a doctor, but I have been in education for over 20 years. Throughout the years my four children were growing up, I worked all but one year. I love my career, feel as if I'm making a difference (I'm a curriculum supervisor--former French teacher). Nevertheless, in hindsight, the price I paid was too high. My children (23,21,18 & 14) say that they didn't mind going to day care and having nannies, but I CARE! I missed out on so much. Just recently they were talking about the way a day care provider mis-treated them, and I had no idea. She was a fellow Mormon mom and had a long-standing day care in her home. These decisions are completely personal, but now that I'm looking forward to being a grandmother, I hope my kids will not follow in their mother's footsteps. Oh, and for the record, I am about as feminist as they come. You can have everything in life, but I wouldn't try to have it all at once ever again. I feel your pain. I am not a doctor, but I have been in education for over 20 years. Throughout the years my four children were growing up, I worked all but one year. I love my career, feel as if I’m making a difference (I’m a curriculum supervisor–former French teacher). Nevertheless, in hindsight, the price I paid was too high.

My children (23,21,18 & 14) say that they didn’t mind going to day care and having nannies, but I CARE! I missed out on so much. Just recently they were talking about the way a day care provider mis-treated them, and I had no idea. She was a fellow Mormon mom and had a long-standing day care in her home.

These decisions are completely personal, but now that I’m looking forward to being a grandmother, I hope my kids will not follow in their mother’s footsteps.

Oh, and for the record, I am about as feminist as they come. You can have everything in life, but I wouldn’t try to have it all at once ever again.

]]> By: Kaedi http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18803 Kaedi Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:28:05 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18803 Ahhhh -- such a great post. I can totally relate. Luckily hospitals are open 24-7, and moonlighting positions are a dime a dozen, right? Per diem shifts and moonlighting have allowed me to soak up every second with my daugther, AND keep my foot in the door (read: help pay bills). Ahhhh — such a great post. I can totally relate. Luckily hospitals are open 24-7, and moonlighting positions are a dime a dozen, right? Per diem shifts and moonlighting have allowed me to soak up every second with my daugther, AND keep my foot in the door (read: help pay bills).

]]> By: dalene http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18801 dalene Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:19:33 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18801 I appreciate your candor and the discussion here and I wish you well. I appreciate your candor and the discussion here and I wish you well.

]]> By: Andrea http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18800 Andrea Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:31:26 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18800 By the way though, I do know what you mean. I started medical school when my daughter was 10 months old, and am expecting another little girl in June. I don't regret going into medicine or having children this early in the game (in some ways it is easier...I can stay home with my daughter when she's sick without impinging on anyone else, for instance, though it is really hard when sick times coincide with both major exams and sickness on my part). But--especially with an infant--there is a big part of me that would really, really like to do it all. Certain aspects of how my dauther has spent her time away from me have always been *different* than I think they would have been with me...which is hard in some ways. I honestly do believe that she has gained more than she has lost from having a nanny with different strengths than myself last year, and being in daycare with spectacular teachers this year. Still, it is so difficult to know how much to be willing to let go. Especially with a baby under 1. And especially with finite resources. There is nothing wrong with feeling secure in the different decisions we make as parents and women passionate about our careers. But the terrain is complex and fraught with trade-offs. And it really is hard. By the way though, I do know what you mean. I started medical school when my daughter was 10 months old, and am expecting another little girl in June. I don’t regret going into medicine or having children this early in the game (in some ways it is easier…I can stay home with my daughter when she’s sick without impinging on anyone else, for instance, though it is really hard when sick times coincide with both major exams and sickness on my part). But–especially with an infant–there is a big part of me that would really, really like to do it all. Certain aspects of how my dauther has spent her time away from me have always been *different* than I think they would have been with me…which is hard in some ways. I honestly do believe that she has gained more than she has lost from having a nanny with different strengths than myself last year, and being in daycare with spectacular teachers this year. Still, it is so difficult to know how much to be willing to let go. Especially with a baby under 1. And especially with finite resources. There is nothing wrong with feeling secure in the different decisions we make as parents and women passionate about our careers. But the terrain is complex and fraught with trade-offs. And it really is hard.

]]> By: Andrea http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18799 Andrea Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:54:49 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18799 Regarding part time jobs...if you find something a little more ideal but still aren't satisfied, how about shifting your daughter's sleep schedule? We started putting our daughter to bed at 8 or 8:30 when she was around 9 months old so I could have a little more time with her in the evenings. Granted, it sounds like you have a serious sleeper on your hands (6:30-7:30am is an impressive stretch of time), but maybe you could get her to sleep a little more during the day with her babysitter so she can stay up a little later at night? Regarding part time jobs…if you find something a little more ideal but still aren’t satisfied, how about shifting your daughter’s sleep schedule? We started putting our daughter to bed at 8 or 8:30 when she was around 9 months old so I could have a little more time with her in the evenings. Granted, it sounds like you have a serious sleeper on your hands (6:30-7:30am is an impressive stretch of time), but maybe you could get her to sleep a little more during the day with her babysitter so she can stay up a little later at night?

]]> By: Ryan http://doctorandcovenants.com/2009/01/07/why-i-am-losing-my-love-of-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-18798 Ryan Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:41:04 +0000 http://doctorandcovenants.com/?p=285#comment-18798 Gwen, I am the boss and I forbid you to respond to this bloggers material EVER again! On a side note all very well said. Gwen,

I am the boss and I forbid you to respond to this bloggers material EVER again!

On a side note all very well said.

]]>