Dr. Zibners.com

How to know if your child's illness or injury is really an emergency

articles

When Worlds Collide part # 1738

I’ll make it quick. I’m in Wales teaching trauma. Only this time I have a little Eva strapped to my back. It’s a classic example of how parenting can sometimes interfere with one’s professional self. But also an example of how really wonderful colleagues can make all the difference. Or maybe just an example of how you should only associate with people who have children.

You all know I like to come up here and spend a few days being “Dr. Zibners,” not “Mommy.” But this time I realized that not only had I just left them, but our regular babysitter is on vacation. I’ve got a few other great girls that know the girls but none had spent full days with them both awake. So I made a few phone calls and the decision was made that it was better for me to be here with one kid than miss the opportunity. And Divide and Conquer seemed the best option. So we packed our bags and drove up last night.
And it’s been great. Eva played with a skeleton for an hour. She’s been strapped to a chair in her Wiggle Wrapper for cervical spine lectures. And she actually let the course director take her for a walk while I helped a demonstration. On the other hand, she fussed and cried through chest x-rays, screamed when I tried to leave her in the office with the secretaries and crumbled a raisin cake into the carpet of the conference room. In other words, if it weren’t for the understanding and kindness of both my fellow teachers and the students, I couldn’t make this work. And of course, like all working Mommies, I feel guilty. But this time not for leaving her but for needing my colleagues to understand that I may not be 100% the professional this time. Thank God she’s cute. 4 teeth and an serious interest in C-spine immobilization go a long, long way when your Mom is straddling two worlds. If only all working mothers could be so lucky.

Dr. Lara Zibners, Sep 09, 2010

Find more articles like this one:

• Topic:

• Keywords:

Comments

Discuss this article.

No Comments yet.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.