Wow this title feels so mature lol. Being a millennial means doing adult things, but sometimes being awed at the fact that you’re doing it haha. In this case it’s being a mother along with my friends and seeing the variations in how we’re going about the journey.
Yesterday I had a beautiful mother and baby lunch with my friend who I met at a locum shift and exchanged contacts with as we were both intending on applying for public health specialty training (it’s very competitive). We studied together and passed the exams but didn’t get through the further stages – she got an interview though! It’s only 80 spots for 12,000 applicants so you can imagine how tight competition is!! So now we both have accepted offers for general practice training (and I’m currently loving it!) – I’m still grateful to have met such a delightful person!
Sometimes people say there’s no right or wrong way to parent but as a doctor who’s worked in paediatrics – there’s definitely many ways to do it wrong…I’ve seen the results land on my ward. That said, among parents who actually love their children and thus are trying to bring them up in a safe and loving environment – I always say to myself that is all that matters.
So if you don’t breastfeed for as long as the next person but your baby remains fed – that is fine. If the next person lets their baby watch a few minutes of Ms Rachel while you do absolutely no screen time – again, let them be. You’re not in the home with the child and neither are you in the parent’s body feeling all the hormones battling with any other stress sources. It would be unfair to dictate how someone else raises their child just because it differs to you; so long as the child is safe and loved – rest.
I say this because we hear how much we dislike when our elders interfere with our lifestyle choices, so why become the same thing you despise? Check yourself before you speak – is what I’m saying going to lift up or tear down? Food for thought.
Till next time,
Dr ETK xo
