My daughter is a vibrant young preschooler. To my excitement, she has become fascinated with my new career path. Here's a small sampling of things she says as she takes in our medical school experience.
(Now, I fully understand that my kids are not necessarily as charming to everyone else as they are to me, so perhaps this post is more for me so that I don't forget this precious aspect of my journey through med school. But I hope you enjoy and at least get a little chuckle.)
-When we're eating any type of meat, once she knows which animal it is from, she asks which body part it is. She then tells me the corresponding body part on her own body (her personal favorite is pork butt- such a comedian).
-"Mommy, are you going to wear your white doctor suit tomorrow?" There are some days when I must wear my short white coat and bring my stethoscope with me, whether I'm heading off to practice my skills with a community physician, volunteering in my school's free clinic, or participating in a learning activity in my school's clinical skills lab. I usually set it out the night before so I don't forget, and she calls it my "white doctor suit".
-"Mommy, can I read your body book?" The body book to which she is referring is my anatomy textbook, Gray's Anatomy for Students. She loves flipping through the book, periodically stopping to ask me to explain a picture to her. I tried explaining dermatomes once and afterwards she looked at me as if I were crazy and said "That man just has a rainbow on his body". Although she has learned that the "intestines make poop and the kidneys make pee". I guess that sums up the important stuff from my Gastrointestinal and Renal-Endocrine modules from first year.
-"Why does that man not have any skin?" A time or two she has caught glimpses of my computer screen as I watch an anatomy review podcast recorded in my school's cadaver lab. The first time I was expecting cries of terror, but she was surprisingly ok with it. I think it bothers me more than it bothers her, so now I try to wait until after she goes to bed to review those.
-"When my mommy becomes a doctor, we get to go to Disney World!" Our ideal plans include a big vacation to Disney World after graduation, before I start residency. She doesn't hesitate to tell this to anyone and everyone. Even random people at the store. Hmmm, I wonder if she is excited...
-"After preschool I'll go to high school, then college, then I'll be in med school like you!" If only it were that simple.
Fellow medical student mommies, do your kids ever entertain you with their own interpretations of your medical training?
I personally found these hilarious. My daughter does very similar things. She's always begging me to play Dr. with her and for me to let her use my pink stethoscope. She especially loves it when I wear my white coat. She tells me all the time that she wishes that she was big like me and that we were doctors together. And, other times she says that she wants to be Cinderella first and then she will be a doctor like me.
ReplyDeleteI am not a person that finds many topics taboo to discuss, and my daughter takes full advantage of that. She is constantly quizzing me on my knowlege of the body. She wants to know where things come from, what things do, etc. I think she appreciates that when she asks me about poop and pee and private things, I am matter-of-fact with her and answer all her questions. (Lord save me when we have to have the "sex talk"). I can't help but chuckle when she tries to share this information with others who find these subjects undesirable topics of conversation.
Overall, I think our children are blessed to be a part of our education. It gives them a unique perspective and curiosity because we are constantly bringing our "work" home with us. They see our deep interest in what we are doing, and in their desire to be like us, they want to take part in it too. It's very endearing and gives me a lot of motivation to keep on pushing, even when I want to give up.
MissMelissMD, you brought up a really great point about the fact that our daughters see us as role models and naturally want to take part in what we do. What little girl doesn't play house and pretend to be the mommy? I hope that someday when our little girls are not so little, they will look back on what we have done and know that nothing is out of reach for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story!