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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have great flexibility and love my work but only get 60k. Good thing DH earns more. My DD is choosing not to pursue an MD for work life balance concerns, as well as the cost and length of med school. [/quote]

Doesn't it depend hugely on specialty?  My brother is a dermatologist that does mostly cosmetic work, all at his office, no hospital work. He has a great lifestyle. [/quote]

I have an MD.  I actually find that hospital work is more flexible than office work.  For example, this Saturday, my daughter has a piano recital at 11am, so I am available in an emergency, but otherwise, I won’t go in until noon to see my inpatients.  Plus no one expects to see “their” doctor in the hospital, so if I needed to find someone to cover for me, I could.

However, clinic is different.  My clinic is booked three months out with most people booking appointments 3-6 months in advance.  I didn’t know about the piano recital until 2 months in advance.  So, if I had clinic that day, I wouldn’t have been able to go.  
I can also leave the hospital if my kids are having an emergency and return later.  But if I have clinic, I have to walk out and tell people in the lobby that I can’t see them that day, and they will have to reschedule.  I have only done that twice.  Once because my nanny had to call 911 because my son was septic, and once because I had strep throat, couldn’t think straight, and started making a ton of mistakes.  I was afraid I would hurt someone.

I am surprised at people saying dentist.  That doesn’t seem like a career that would support being a primary caregiver to children.  Unless people are imaginj g that they would have a SAH spouse?

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Dentist here! 
I work three days a week, am the primary breadwinner (husband is a project manager, but works for the govt) AND the primary caretaker of the kids. I feel like we have it pretty dang good- I’m home with the kids two days a week, but he gets great health insurance AND dependent care sick leave! Aka, he stayed home with them yesterday when one had a fever, but today was one of my days off so I was home with both.

If I had to do it over, I would pick Dentistry again. I do feel like it’s provided me the optimal work- life balance. I rarely call in sick, but if I have to, it’s not life or death for the patient and I can even work on an off day to make it up. I work in a partner practice so emergencies can be taken care of by my partner.

That being said, becoming a dentist is extremely expensive. I was super fortunate to not have any loans from undergrad or dental school. This allows me a very flexible part time schedule. If my kids had to take out a 500k loan today graduate....I’m not sure. I’m eternally grateful for the help from my parents to pay for it thereby affording me this lifestyle.

Also- money is definitely not my number one motivation in my practice, I practice conservatively. I make in the low six figures working those three days a week and I am completely content with that. (I do not live in DC, but in a much lower cost of living area). [/quote]

I am one who said I would do dentistry.  I went into a health field that isn't very practical for my lifestyle, and it was a career that like dentistry cost me financially due to loans yet didn't pay well.

I know of at least two dentist moms in my area who work 2-3 (longer) days a week, which I think would be ideal.  It's an interesting career with lots of social interaction, and from what I've seen provides flexibility.  You can also be a dentist anywhere.[/quote]

Modern dentist offices typically have a couple of extended days plus Saturday hours. But they also tend to be closed one weekday (a lot are closed on Monday) or have a few half-days.[/quote]

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