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Pediatrician works part time, but she’s a full-time parent.

Having a child is the most wonderful experience in the world. They enrich your life immeasurably, but they also change it dramatically. While I always know I wanted children, the reality always seemed so far off in the future. I therefore pursued my career as a doctor, without much thought as to what would happen when I had a family. I always thought when the time came, I would be a woman of the ‘90’s and juggle it all with ease.

Well, when I was finally blessed with my daughter, the clear outlook for my future blurred. How could I spend every moment with this wonderful new human being who seemed to need every bit of my attention? Yet, how could I give up a career in which I had invested so much, and truly loved? It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to take years off from working in medicine and then try to begin practicing again. I love being a pediatrician and it is part of who I am as a person. After much deliberation, I decided that working part time would give me the balance I desired. I was very fortunate to have this opportunity. My husband’s career allowed me a great deal of flexibility in pursuing a part-time career of my own.

While this balance has worked very well for me, I can tell you I always wish I could spend more time with my daughter. Currently, Alexa, who is now 3, goes to school (“First Day, First School,” Las Vegas Family Magazine, August 2000), you know all about that milestone. Currently, she seems to really enjoy school and be genuinely happy when I pick her up at the end of the day.

Also, while I hate to admit it, there have been days where going to work is easier than staying home. Children are wonderful, but they also are very needy. While my co-workers understand when I have a headache and need a moment to myself, preschoolers do not. They can generally hear the words, “I’ll be there in a minute,” without breaking down in tears during the ensuing seconds. And my co-workers tend not to follow me into the bathroom.

Working outside the house also has somewhat evened the division of labor between my husband and me. I think that if I was home all the time, there would be different expectations with regard to housework. Currently, we split the housework fairly evenly, and I’m sure if I was not working, this would not be the case.

I also have found that absence does make the heart grow fonder. I look forward to all the time I spend with my daughter and can’t wait to hear all the things she did when I was not with her. This is not to say that if I was home all the time I would not enjoy her, but I think I find each moment that much more special because our time together is somewhat limited. I leave work each day truly excited to be with her and rejuvenated to spend “kid time” reading stories and having tea parties. You can spend 24 hours a day with a person and not really “be” with them. As much as I would love to spend more time with my daughter, I think it’s the quality of time, not the quantity, that counts.

For now, working part time is the right balance for me. Many of my friends are stay-at-home moms, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. I have other friends who work full time, some because they want to, and others because they need to. You need to find the right balance for you. I’m hoping to raise my child in an environment where she develops the confidence to be successful as a mother, career woman, or any other combination of the two. We want her to know that the choice is hers.

Laura Weidenfeld, M.D.
Sunshine Valley Pediatrics in Summerlin

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