All in Doctorly Musings
Every day I meet an Evan Hansen or a Connor Murphy or an Alana Beck. Or a Zoe Murphy. Every day I meet one of these kids in our office, whether they are teens or still toddlers.
For the Evan or Connor who is already a teen, I take a deep breath. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Evan and Connor are characters in the musical (and now novel), Dear Evan Hansen. Both of whom are struggling with feeling alone, with feeling anxiety, with feeling/being depressed.
Did you know that sharing an interest in something is a milestone? Like, when your toddler finds something new and exciting and they bring you to that something or bring that something to you?
I’ve started writing this post in many different ways as there are so MANY doctors I am grateful to on Doctors’ Day. And so MANY patients as well, both still kids and some now adults, and some are now gone.
But what I keep thinking about this year are those OTHER doctors who helped me become a doctor. No, not my attendings, though I’m grateful to most of them too.
I’m talking about my friends in medical school. There were many of them but there are several who were by my side the whole time, and who I still consider as close to my heart even if we only talk a few times a year, or even if has been YEARS since we’ve spoken.
Mr. Bookworm and I are still holding onto a lot of family-oriented activities. Like our Family movie nights on Fridays, originally inspired by one of my attendings when I was a resident.
Butterflies, Dr. Bookworm’s family, and the red threads of fate.
Dear Girl is a love letter to all the little girls out there, to let them know that they are not alone. To let them know that it’s okay to say no, to let them know that it’s okay to be strong, to cry, to be themselves.
If I posted pictures of me compared to ten years ago, I may not look younger or more fit, but I am just as content.
Content is a mild word, but only because today is the day that my middle child would be turning ten years old.
Every year, we celebrate Macy and her short life. She taught me so much about myself, though I’m not sure everyone would understand that. She also reinforced my love and respect for Mr. Bookworm, who has been a true partner to me every step of the way.
I thought back to my first year with Little Lion, my rainbow baby. Do I remember any of it?
Mostly no. I just remember sleepless nights and breastfeeding and holding her close. Plus the JOY JOY JOY that our rainbow baby brought into our lives. Always bittersweet.
I likely wrote about this last year too, but this is the time of year when I freeze up in the aisles at Target. Why?
Because I feel at a loss at whether or not to buy a(nother) mini-Christmas tree for Macy.
Dr. Bookworm talks about PEACEFUL mornings as a mother, and also about Special Delivery and the OC Walk to Remember.
Books are still being banned in the U.S. in 2018. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why.
A day in the life of the Bookworm family on the last day of summer break.
I read everything I could about breastfeeding when I became a mom. You know why? Because breastfeeding wasn't easy. It didn't come naturally. And it hurt! Why didn't anyone tell me it would hurt at first? Mini Me kept falling asleep and she lost more than the maximum ten percent. And later she went on nursing strike at three months of age.
As I wrote the other day, my girls are loving Paris and so am I. We love the individual little boutiques and we're certainly loving all the independent book shops. We love the cobblestone roads, the delicious summer cherries, the little surprises in architecture that we find in every corner.
If I could read French, I would have bought books from every little cute bookstore we found in the Latin Quarter.
Being a parent is very much a think on your feet type of job. Plus ever changing. I often say that as a mom, I definitely have to think outside the box for solutions. Every. Single. Day.
We've struggled (as all parents do) with teaching our kids to do their chores and to have some value for money.
Mini Me had an extra credit school assignment to abstain from all social media for one week. She signed a contract of intent, and parents' participation was optional.
It was tougher than I thought it would be….
This is a work in progress. I was inspired to write a picture book based on these famous Star Wars lines. But it ended up being an ode to my bookworm girls. So, in honor of Mother's Day, here it is. I love you, Mini Me and Little Lion. Seven and a half plump-tillion pieces.
i need to listen more
Period.
As a doctor, and definitely as a mom, I need to listen more.
Dr. Bookworm recounts the Bookworm family adventures at the 2018 L.A. Times Festival of Books. Plus, there’s Leslie Odom, Jr. involved. :D
