Long exhale…
I am: Competent. Capable. Prepared to work hard to become an excellent pediatrician.
I had my first interviews today. I was nervous and happy, and I hardly slept last night (nerves + that dreaded four-, now five-month sleep regression), but I think they went okay. I’m trying to settle in to the fact that I’m not going to know anything for over five months, but something (hopefully a job) will likely work out.
With our babysitter still available, I was able to take a quick nap this afternoon, and the fog lifted. We took a family walk–our home in Charlottesville is a stone’s throw away from a busy three-way stop where buses often pass, so it’s basically Ari’s own personal heaven. Then we were lucky enough to share some wine and toblerone with Anne and her family on her birthday!
Sweet friendship:
And, Evie, when we return to our home in Philly: sleep training, it’s happening.
anna in med school 
Hooray interview! I can’t wait to hear about it.
Thank you so so much!!! Cannot wait to see you!
Glad things went well, even with the lack of sleep.
Aw, thank you! I hope I didn’t look like a zombie 🙂
I just want to say that, after reading your entire blog from beginning to end, I love it and I love your writing and I love your journey! I stumbled on your blog through another medical blog as I’m trying to grasp the reality of medical school and residency while also being a mom. I graduated from law school three years ago, found out I was pregnant with my first child the day I graduated, moved a year later from Nashville to Austin for my husband to get his phd, had a daughter ten months ago (also named Anna!), and I’ve been at home with my children since we moved. I’m also a nurse and worked for four years as an RN before law school. BUT a huge part of me wonders if I did everything wrong, and I really regret not going to medical school. So now I’m trying to figure out if starting all over (I need pre-reqs, and a lot of them since I tested out of many of them through AP tests) is worth it, especially now that I have children and already have a career when I’m ready for it (although perhaps the wrong career). So I’ve been trying to figure out what being a med student, resident, and doctor is really like to see if it’s something I really want to commit to. Do you have any thoughts on this? Also, like you, I have an interest in ob/gyn and pediatrics, and I think I’d ultimately do peds. (Another piece to all of this…. part of me wonders since I am already a mom and I just turned 33, if I should do an NP track instead, which would be a much smaller time commitment, and would still allow me to do health policy work, which is why I went to law school.)
I love everything about your blog – your stories about your beautiful girls, your stories about balancing motherhood with your love for medicine, your educational posts, your love for singing (I’m also a singer and would love to find a choir again). I love it all! And thank you for sharing your journey!
Melissa,
Your note made me so happy, thank you!!
You have been busy! I cannot believe all the things you’ve had to juggle in the last couple years!
I’m friends with a 40-year-old lawyer turned med student down the street from me and his wife. His wife is incredible–so supportive and willing to move pretty much anywhere for his training (totally generous of her!). When I comment on this, she almost brushes it off, saying that of course she would do that if it meant finding a career that her husband really loved!
I wish I could speak more to the NP track, or the PA track for that matter…I know so little about either other than, from the outsider’s perspective, they both look like very rewarding careers, and I often think I should have considered them more. Ultimately, I’m glad I chose going for the MD because I don’t want any limitations to where I can take my career…but that might be a really immature way of thinking about things, especially because, as you alluded, there is a lot of leadership opportunities as an NP.
How many kids do you have? Your life seems so full and exciting with the completion of law school + moves + family!
By the way, this is not meant to dismiss what you’re feeling or any frustration, but I can’t imagine that you “did everything wrong.” I know I have little experience, but I do think that the curvy routes that got us toward medicine contribute to our experiences in medicine. A law degree and parenting experience, for example, can be pretty relevant to the practice of medicine.
Also, I am with you–I desperately want to find singing opportunities again!
Please let me know what I can do to help during the decision-making process. And thank you again for your comment–it really made me so happy!
anna
Thank you so much for getting back to me! After I commented, I was hoping that nothing came across wrong and that I made sense — I have so many thoughts about everything, and sometimes it’s hard to convey it all.
Your story about the lawyer-turned-med-student is so inspiring. And I love your thought about “curvy routes” — I try to remind myself that no matter what, the path I’ve taken is all part of my journey, and I shouldn’t limit myself. That’s why I love your journey — it’s not the typical med student path, but it’s still perfect, and even more interesting since it’s different from the norm.
I’m just at a point of trying to figure out what really makes sense. If I started pre-reqs and went to med school (if I could even get in!), my kids would be pre-teens/teenagers when I was in residency. Not sure if that’s really ideal. I have two kids — a nearly 3 year old son and a 10 month old daughter. And my husband and I are discussing whether to have a third (whole other conversation, but in a nutshell…I’ve always wanted three kids, he’s still on the fence, so we’ll see). And I don’t want my desire for family to be put on the back burner for career.
Thank you for your NP/PA thoughts. Since I’m already a nurse, going to NP school is very attainable in terms of the application process and getting in, and that’s the only reason I would do NP instead of PA. Also, if I wasn’t already a nurse I would only consider med school since getting a bachelor’s in nursing and then a master’s would take as long as med school. AND THAT’S WHY I SOMETIMES HAVE REGRET!!! I wish I would have just started on the med school path to begin with. Agh. I think if I did do med school, I wouldn’t have much time at all for law and policy work, so that’s a pro of not going (although I know down the road I would have more time, but at least initially this interest would be a lesser priority while getting through school).
I’m sure I’ll think of more questions and thoughts, too. Again, thank you for taking the time to write back. I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!
I think you should look into being a nurse attorney. Google it.
Anna I just took a peek at this, how lucky we were to share so much time with your beautiful family during your visit! Thanks for sharing your beauties with us, Rowan delighted in having Ari around and has already declared that Ari will be getting an invite to her Birthday party. I guess this means we have to throw one for her? We miss you already!