anna in med school

The last two months have been blissful!  I’m a full-time mom and part-time student.  I have class two evenings a week when I venture into the city by myself and get to discuss and debate with fellow med students, physicians, professors, lawyers, nurses, other grad students–makes me feel like a grown up.  I even dress pretty (by comparison).  Aurelia’s in daycare twice a week so I can work and she can play and learn with friends her own size.  She absolutely loves it–starts panting when she sees the purple door!

Then I’m with my daughter for five days without guilt about the work I’m not doing.  I keep comparing it to my time with her in the first few months.  I was trying to get a paper published and, though I loved having something else to think about, I should have just hired a sometimes babysitter months before I did.  Trying to get work done in 10- to 20-minute increments is not a happy way to work, and it kind of made me feel like I was failing on both mom and med student fronts.  In summary, life now is better.

That all changes tomorrow.  Ari goes back to daycare full-time so I can study for step 2 of the boards.  We’re both ready, but I’ll miss this time with her.  It’s been a good balance of the things I love.  But this preparation for step 2 I think will be an needed ramp-up for when I start back full-time at school in January, a commitment that spans beyond daycare hours (yeah…we’ll be looking for a babysitter from 5am-7:30am; let me know if you know anyone who might be interested!).

To add twist to this turn of plot, John is leaving town for the next nine days.  Bah, Dallas, bah!  On the one hand, I actually feel like my work load is lessened a bit when John’s away, since I don’t spend very much effort on things like dinner (Ari and I are pleased as punch to just have paleo pancakes, thanks).  But I miss him already, and I know Aurelia will be a little crushed when she intently whispers “Da!  Dada!” as we round the corner to the bedroom, and he’s not there.  Wish us luck!

I admit it.  I go online and see blogs and facebook pictures of folks making full-out dragon costumes (probably with some device to let their children really breath fire), and I get in a little tizzy about what I might be able to sew together with the old surgical suture kits I stole on the wards.  And then I remember: Aurelia is one, and she’s not reading these blogs.  She screams bloody murder when I try to slip a onesie over her head, do you think she’s going to let me stuff her into an overly hot, itchy costume?  (To the moms and dads out there who effortlessly throw together said costumes without breaking a sweat [and the babies who are chill enough to tolerate them], seriously, more power to you!  And thank you–it’s a delight to see all the cute little critters out on Halloween!)

Oh. My. Goodness.  I know I’m biased, but I think my daughter makes the sweetest Harry Potter.  And the costume was made all the easier because one of my best friends did all the legwork (thank you so much, Aunt Kathleen!).  And the costume was comfortable!  When she’s older and cares, I’ll let her make herself slightly miserable by wearing something impractical but trendy.  For now, I’m grateful for the cozy Gryffindor leggings that she’ll sport throughout the winter.

Mischief Managed!  Happy Halloween!