As a pediatrician has been practising for 30 years, the most frequent non-medical question that patients’ parents ask me is, “Doctor, do you have children of your own?” Their questions show that although they value my medical education and expertise, they want to know if I’ve had first-hand experience with the worries and difficulties of having a sick child, making decisions regarding vaccinations, and raising children in general. I answer with, “Yes, I have three of my own,” and proceed to tell them the ages of my children. I’ve realized that if I really had the time, there is a long list of what I would like my patients to know about pediatrician mothers.
I believe that this list applies to most if not all of us: We’ve all tearfully left our kids with fevers of 104 and vomiting at home in the care of grandparents, and come into work to take care of your children. When you tell us that…
