Our children are getting ready to start school on Monday. Having just moved to Pennsylvania, they are understandably concerned about making new friends. As we have talked about this the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking about how we never outgrow the desire to fit in and have friends. Even as adults, we need other…
This week, I need your help. Over the last year, the number of people reading my blog has grown substantially. As I move forward, I want to make sure I am writing about topics and providing content that is helpful and relevant to YOU! But that means I need to know more about you!…
Three-year-old and five-year-old boys drive moving truck into neighbor’s yard barely missing the house. It’s true. Two years ago our boys climbed into the moving truck while we were loading it and knocked the faulty gear shifter out of park and disengaged the emergency brake. There were no keys in the truck and we didn’t…
In his book, Better, writer, surgeon, and researcher Dr. Atul Gwande asked, “What does it take to be good at something in which failure is so easy, so effortless?” I hear this concern from many couples in medical relationships. When I ask physician couples what topics are most pressing and concerning to them, the overwhelming…
You’ve probably heard the term passive aggression, but do you truly understand what it means? Can you accurately spot it in your relationships—or even in yourself? And perhaps most importantly, do you know how to navigate relationships with someone who consistently displays passive-aggressive behavior?
Late one evening, after hours of combing through Quicken and wrestling with the numbers, I found myself sitting at my computer—overwhelmed, exhausted, and defeated. The financial strain of medical school loomed over me like a dark cloud. No matter how carefully I budgeted, the truth was unavoidable: our monthly loan stipend fell far short of…
There have been several studies examining medical marriages and relationship satisfaction. One study found that most partners or spouses (86.8%) are happy and satisfied in their relationships. Interestingly, the number one predictor of satisfaction wasn’t the physician’s specialty, work hours, or practice setting—it was the amount of time the couple spent together (and awake!) each…
Have you ever felt frozen by a decision that feels impossible to make? Or filled with doubt, confusion, and overwhelm–wishing someone would just make the decision for you? Me too. Every time my husband ends one phase of his medical career and moves on to the next, I feel like we end up in the…
Did you know that willpower is a finite resource? It’s true. There comes a point when you can’t just keep telling yourself to keep on. I was reminded of that this week as the stress level at our house continues to mount with our upcoming move. I found myself frequently reaching for my favorite chocolates.…
You may not naturally connect with the members of your spouse’s family. Still, it is essential to remember this: the number one priority with in-laws is to form a relationship with them that does not hurt your marriage. There are several proactive things you can do create just that kind of relationship:
Question: We are second year medical students. First year medical school was rough–and we have lots of layers to our situation. One of them is that we have two kids under 4-years old and we live 2000 miles away from family. My main question is how to manage a relationship (romantic/connected/sexual and being vulnerable) with my…
Dear Parents, What an exciting opportunity for you to see your son or daughter progressing in his or her career as a physician! You are the ones that were there, encouraging this process for years: reading bedtime stories, attending parent-teacher conferences, helping with hours of homework and those dreaded yearly science fair projects, and teaching those all-important…