Hello Mothers in Medicine readers,
I am Geraldine Chang. I go by Geri. I have been X-ray vision for a couple years now. Thank you for reading about my struggles of balancing motherhood, long distance marriage and residency and then fellowship. It has been hard for someone like myself who is an open book to be anonymous. However, I was always cautious during training to be so open about my thoughts and opinions.
Anyways, that ship has sailed! I officially graduated from my breast imaging fellowship on June 30th, 2017. I am currently very much enjoying unemployment, which is coming to an end. I did my residency and fellowship in San Diego and now I will be starting a private practice job in Los Angeles. After two years of being apart, my family is now all under the same roof! It has been absolutely wonderful.
But now reality is sinking in. I am about to start my FIRST attending job, which begins next Monday and I am hot mess of emotions ranging from fear to excitement. I hope to be honest and open about my endeavors as a first time attending, expanding my family in the near future and continuing this balancing act all of us workings mom do!
I had it in my head that a lot of the problems during residency and fellowship as a mom would magically disappear when I became an attending! Silly right? But I needed some of that ignorant bliss to get me through all the training but as I was ending my fellowship, I realized there is no magical solution to balancing motherhood and a career. You just have to do what's right for you.
My mom has been pretty much my only source of child care the first two years of little C's life. I am forever grateful but it has been hard on her and also our own relationship. She's no longer an option. After being with little C alone for 2 years in San Diego while big C was doing his fellowship in New Haven for 1 year and another year as an attending in Los Angeles, I grew a lot as a mother and as physician. People asked me how I did it all the time. To be honest, I don't know. When you have to do something, you just do it. And it never ends. But a lot it is just perspective (and a lot of coffee!).
Right now, I am feeling grateful for this new job. I am grateful for the flexible schedule, the obvious increase in pay and mostly, I am grateful that I get a provide my daughter with an example on how you really can do it all. Do you remember me? I wrote a guest blog on this very website. Here it is--http://www.mothersinmedicine.com/2013/07/guest-post-hard-decision.html
I wish I could give that girl a hug. She really needed one. I still can't read that post without crying because the overwhelming guilt I felt comes back and I feel it to the very core.
But now I know, it all works out. I tell myself this as I am getting ready for a whole new set of growing pains, which includes new job, new school and nanny for little C and overall, a new routine and with that I know will come with some degree of mom guilt.
Thanks for being my support. Thanks for listening! Now that I am no longer X-ray Vision, you can also read my personal blog to little C at www.doctormomwifealloftheabove.blogspot.com or follow me on instagram at gerichangmd.
Good luck, Geri! Congrats on reaching attendinghood. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your training. I started work as an attending about two years ago, and it is definitely an adjustment, but you do figure it out in time. Good luck with the transition!
ReplyDeleteAll 3 finally living under the same roof! How resilient you guys are!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Geri! For me transition to private practice from training was transformative - don't give up the silly dream. New problems yes, but adult problems with much more control. Can't wait to check out your blog. LA wow - I'm heading there mid August for a doc mom get together. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteBig congrats on finishing and making it through like a boss. I remember your guest post from way back and what stuck out most to me was how strong you were (are!) for making the best decision for your family and yourself, despite what idiots may say or think. Thank you for the reminder that even though the journey is long and sacrifice will always be a big part of it, there is light at the end of the tunnel for those of us still in training!
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