Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:15     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Am in law. If it makes you feel better OP, while the mat leave is great, there’s so much work outside of “regular” work hours, and a lot of travel too, which is hard.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:14     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Law is not family-friendly but some of us go into low key government roles and sacrifice a lot of earning power for the sake of our families and our sanity.

I regret not choosing a career like medicine but the grass is always greener.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:10     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
You can do plenty with your MD degree. Stop complaining and start looking.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:09     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Anonymous wrote:That’s strange because some articles claim medicine is a family friendly career, for the ability to work part-time. I know women physicians that work just one or two days per week. Of course that assumes they have a partner working full time.

I used to work in a hospital with plenty of 2-physician couples. It wasn’t uncommon for one spouse to have a big job while the other went part-time. ER is also good. You can work 3 shifts a week and have the rest of the time off.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:07     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Law and tech aren’t really known for being family friendly (except for the maternity leave).
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:07     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Anonymous wrote:And I should have considered this more when choosing a career. I graduated during the recession so picked medicine because you can always have a job. But now, I see my friends in law and tech who get 5-6 months paid maternity leave and get to work from home and pump. Meanwhile, I have to fight to get 12 weeks and I work such long hours that I never bonded well with my first baby. Pumping is an inconvenience so I will likely end up formula feeding again (which is fine but I wish I could have more ability to do exclusive breastfeeding.) I should switch careers but I feel trapped since I trained so long to do this. Just wish I had understood this decision more prior to making it.

I thought people went into medicine to help
other people.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:06     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Neither law nor tech is family friendly. Just because they have generous leave doesn't mean they don't look down on women having life balance.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:04     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
That’s strange because some articles claim medicine is a family friendly career, for the ability to work part-time. I know women physicians that work just one or two days per week. Of course that assumes they have a partner working full time.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 16:01     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Maybe telemedicine? My nurse practitioner SIL does it and seems like great work/life balance.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 15:31     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Quit whining. Go part time or consider academia.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 15:18     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
I know doctors who go part time or contract after having kids. Maybe not ideal but an option. I envy my mom MD friends who get paid so much more than I do working PT.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 15:17     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Have you thought about academic medicine? Or you see about working for a pharmaceutical company. Also--VA?
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 15:16     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
I changed careers. It sucked. I miss the old one. But it wasn't working with kids.

Can you change settings within medicine to be more flexible?
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 15:12     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
Can you change where you work? I am also in medicine and have found some hospitals /departments more family friendly than others.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2023 15:10     Subject: Rant: I stupidly picked a career that’s not family friendly
And I should have considered this more when choosing a career. I graduated during the recession so picked medicine because you can always have a job. But now, I see my friends in law and tech who get 5-6 months paid maternity leave and get to work from home and pump. Meanwhile, I have to fight to get 12 weeks and I work such long hours that I never bonded well with my first baby. Pumping is an inconvenience so I will likely end up formula feeding again (which is fine but I wish I could have more ability to do exclusive breastfeeding.) I should switch careers but I feel trapped since I trained so long to do this. Just wish I had understood this decision more prior to making it.