Thanks for checking it out. Writing the blog has been very helpful for me as well as others. I NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS I WOULD WRITE A BLOG. But I think there is something that needs to be said for women in our situation.

I have been away from work for about two months and it is the best thing I have ever done. I am happier, my husband is happier and the kids are doing better. We do miss my income, but not that much. It means I have to be more creative and less over-indulgent with my children, which I am glad I am more frugal now.

There is so much more me to do at home, I have no idea how I managed before. Based on the many comments I have read from this site as well as others, I plan to start working 1/2 day a week or every other week starting this month just to keep my feet wet. However, in the long run I would not mind really using my education in a different way in the future. Medical writing of some sort. The grind of office practice is not attractive anymore.

Thanks for asking.
check me out: http://medicinepostponed.blogspot.com/
leave a comment or follow me, let me know you all are out there.

I also plan to get the book Opting Out! Thanks SAHMD. One of the things I have enjoyed most with being at home is being able to read material other than medical information without guilt!!!

hi!
i just went back to work after having a 2nd child and i wonder if i'm heading along the same path at you guys. i just can't figure out a good way to balance work and home life when i want to give 100% at home and to my primary care patients. i don't feel like i can relate to other non MD part time working mothers in town because the primary care system is set up to work against you if you are not in clinic every freaking day for such minimal pay. my neighbor job-shares her high school guidance counselor job with another women and has a very clear cut job description but that is impossible to find in primary care. mostly because of liability probably. i just feel like i'm in a profession that is going to fail me as a woman who primarily wants to be around for her kids and family but still use her skills as an MD to help patients. reading all of your stories makes me feel like i should quit while i'm ahead. my kids are only 3 months and 2 years so why am i killing myself to hang on to my job when in the end i doubt any practice is going to keep me in the long run if i'm only available 9-2pm once they start school? as it is now i spend my entire paycheck on daycare because i'm afraid to leave medicine but i can't understand what i'm afraid of because all the negative aspects of patient care outweigh the benefits of our profession on daily basis for me. i start my work day off fresh and happy to get out of the house and i come home every work day disgruntled that i left my kids to spend time with annoying patients and staff! will it ever get better?

I left practice completely and my kids are approaching elementary school age. I would say stick it out with some kind of part time work if you think you may have any desire to be a doctor in the future. I find my kids "needing me" less and with more time to myself. But I have no clear road "back in" to practice and I think it would likely be a "full time" commmitment to get myself there. I may be wrong, but I think if I had stayed in practice with some part time work, I may have had a part time position now which would be just about right. But the grass is ALWAYS greener, right?

thank you for the advice! you brought up good points i never thought of because my kids are so young and it's hard to imagine that one day they won't mind if i'm not there very second of the day, ha ha ha! as disgruntled as i am i suppose i can't say that i'm done with medicine for good so i should stick it out. thus far the practice hasn't pressured me to add more hours (although i've only been there a year and i can totally see it coming) so when/if that happens that'll be another post seeking advice.

hi sahm-doc,
have you looked into working urgent care? that would give you shift work with controllable hours. i am staying home this year with my baby, but i'm doing one shift per week as a va er moonlighter. just a thought!

oh i would love to try out urgent care but in my area all the pedi office stay open til 8 and do their own urgent care. the EDs aren't busy enough to staff a pediatricia so the adult ED docs see the kids. quick question...do you pay for your own malpractice in order to do 1 shift per week and would 1 shift per week cover malpractice insurance?

the va covers my malpractice.

Hiya everyone,
I have been a SAHM for four years now. I want to get back to work now as DS starts full time school coming September and dd will turn 2 next March. I am currently preparing for my French licensure as we moved to this country four years back. I would love to know if there is anyone in the same boat? Looks like I will need loads of motivation, commitment and support as its the way back to career is all uphill.