Hi,

It is nice to see others doing what I have done. I have been home with my children for about 21 months now. I am a family doctor with an accountant husband. I have four children and stayed home after my fourth was born.

CCSAHMD I don't think that you will regret it at all. Life is much more managable with me not working.

I'm not saying that I don't second guess my decision alot. But every time I think about going back to work it lasts only for a short time. The demands of home and children are great and work was just not all that enjoyable anymore. My employer was expecting more late nights and that just was not compatible with my life.

I would also like to consider a non-clinical career, preferably something that I could do from home. Hopefully the right thing will find me, for now I am happy.

I hope to become a sahm-md soon. I have 1 child I home school and one on the way. I never thought I would totally quit working, but the reality of practicing medicine has been so disappointing. I thought I would be helping people, but in reality much of my time is spent dealing with office conflicts and fulfilling regulatory tasks imposed by the hospital administration that really have less to do with being a good doctor than making Joint Commission et al happy. Add to that rude and demanding patients who will sometimes resort to threats (yes threats) because they don't feel they should have to pay their $35 dollar copay for their visit (NOT because of financial hardship), and I keep asking myself "what am I doing here?" I would rather "mess up" my career than my children. My husband makes much more than I do , and with the cost of childcare and the emotional and physical toll of trying to juggle too many things, work is becoming too costly of a hobby. I would rather volunteer at the free medical clinic and in the community and meet REAL needs while giving my children and husband the attention they deserve. I am trying to use the 20 year view--20 years from now, what will I wish I had done?

It is good to hear so many in the same position. One question--anyone out there staying home whose husband now makes less than you made when you worked? I'm feeling pressured by him to go back to work for more money. He is happy I quit my job but thinks I can find a part time one I will enjoy, and I doubt it! His job is almost as demanding as mine was--he just makes less money. I am happy staying home now though and so am looking into working from home non-clinical.

My husband made less money than I did, but that did not stop him from wanting me to stay home. We had savings, "had" being the operative word. His attitude changed when the money started to run out.

Hi, new here.

I worked FT and PT as a pediatrician for 7 years before I left to SAH with my now 4 children (for almost 2 years). I homeschool an 8 and 5 year old and have a 4 year old and an infant. I knew quite a few PT pediatricians when I worked as a civilian doc for the military but have not met any SAHM MDs, so it is nice to hear of a few out there.

I consider it is a privilege to be able to raise my children, although it has taken me some years to take this step. I do not practice (paid off my tail last year) but volunteer to lecture at a center to support young/needy mothers.

I enjoyed working PT but with a husband who is a busy surgeon, it became quite painful to juggle "schedules" and unfair to the children. Although I do miss practicing, it does not compare to the joy of investing in their lives. I rarely feel like I am missing out or defrauding myself of a significant career. However, when I worked, I felt pressed and hated leaving my children in daycare or with a nanny (tried both).

My desire is to resume a PT position as the children get older or perhaps teach at a local college (anatomy, physiology, phys dg) but I don't know if this is feasible b/c I haven't spend much time investigating.

Thanks for all the input, I am definitely on a journey with this stay at home thing. My last day is November 13th!!!!!!!

At first I was sooo sad and conflicted, however as the days go by, I want to get away from all of the nonsense. I have had medical assistants bad mouthing me, telling my patients that I got fired and that I could not keep up. I chose to take care of my family!!!!!!

I am soooo tired of the politics, meetings, drama, needy patients with nonsense request and ridiculous expectations.

I am really tired of the lack of respect over all!!! Do not get me wrong, I think I have the best patients ever, they adore me, respect my opinion and many have offered to take care of my children so I would continue to work!!! But the medical field in general no longer respects the physician, the hard work and dedications.

I am ready to say let the medical assistants see the patients.

Thanks everyone. If you ge good leads reagarding other avenues of work, let me know.

As I am taking this journey I started blogging at another site.

Check out:

http://medicinepostponed.blogspot.com/

CCSAHMMD, when I read your blog post about how your husband could not pick up the kids because he was stuck in surgery and you had to cancel your evening clinic to get them, it reminded me of a book I read recently, "Opting Out." I am always talking about it because it explains so much about why some professional women stay home. One of the big factors was that we tend to marry professional men. These men work long hours and are usually not willing to slow down their own careers in order to have more time to do domestic tasks. There are other factors in the decision to stay home, of course, such as the stressfulness and inflexibility of the women's jobs, the needs of their children, the ability of other family members to help, and the women's internalized ideas about being a mother. It is good reading and I think you will recognize a lot of your own situation in the book.

Good luck with the transition to staying home!

Just wanted to add my story to the list. Thank you all for sharing yours.
I left practice about 4 1/2 years ago when my son was born with no intention of returning. I now have two boys. I enjoy them greatly but recently have really been missing clinical practice and am wishing I would have figured out some sort of part time option so I would have a better chance of getting back in. For me, the time has just gone by so fast.

Hi
Hope to keep this thread going, I just recently joined.
I've been home now for 6 years after really needing to take a break from a busy HMO practice when we moved to this small town and have much enjoyed being just mom.
CCSAHMMD and lidiamd, I can relate to your experiences having had to jump through more and more administrative hoops, deal with ever more demanding parents (pediatrics practice for about 13 years after residency), forced to handle more mental health issues(not just following, but diagnosing and treating) and as you state feeling less and less respect in a profession that was once looked up to.
I'm doing some editing for a board review firm online, but compensation is minimal for time spent though it does help me keep up-to-date with new developments.
Espera, part of me has been missing clinical practice too, (getting restless and could use the extra$ for kids education costs). I've been trying to look into part time work, but the response has been very sluggish or negative around here. I'm still waiting to hear from another.
4athomeped, did you look into college teaching? Is a teaching degree needed? I'd be interested in something like that too.
CCSAHMMD looks like you had your last day, how is it going so far?