I agree - it's hard defining the balance between doctor and mom when my kids need care. But then, it's hard to have a patient whose parent or other close relative is a doctor too (or the patient is a doctor). I think defense mechanisms kick in... when your patient is too much like you, it hits too close to home... so as a doctor I automatically start to talk to the other doctor in the room as a colleague instead of as a patient/parent/etc. ( So, see, this is what I do... I keep looking at it from their side, so I don't have to think about our life struggles.) Sometimes I think about going back to teach a class at medical school called "It could happen to you" and discuss how to treat a patient/parent who is also a colleague... or how to be that patient/parent yourself. Maybe I will teach that class...

SES-
I have a fairly healthy (PE tubes the worst we've dealt with so far) 17 month old, but I STILL struggle with how to relate to the pediatrician. I think the "it could happen to you" course would be an excellent course for ALL of us momMDs to take! If you ever give it and have a Web-based version, be sure to let us know-I'll be the first to sign up!