So, I will start this blog by admitting that I have had a bit of a transformation...and for some of you this may come as quite a shock. In fact, I may need to change that to MOST of you might find this quite a shock. But, since I've been living it for over a month, I think it might actually be a viable change in my persona that I have to share.
Dermatology has been a fun and challenging change. No longer as physically demanding as my internship but more intellectually demanding. I'm reading medical literature again, memorizing lists of differential diagnoses and drug side effects while presenting and writing papers again. It's hard, but I like it...better than last year that's for sure!
The only problem is that I happen to be a wife and mother at the same time. For those of you that also fill these role you know that they can easily consume every waking moment of your existence -- and you still could have more to do. So to survive the demands of my residency and feel like I'm not just a mean-stressed-out mom, I have started waking up at 04:00.
It's great--it's quiet and I can read without any guilt. I can shower without wondering what surprise the kids are going to come up with and I can actually exercise again. Nothing monumental...just a few miles 3-4 days a week when I don't have early conferences. It's like heaven. I can't believe I never learned this secret before!! I've always been a night person (as my roommates Marty and Sarah and anyone else who knew me in college can testify. Actually, Marty and Sarah are probably is no longer reading this as that have fallen on the floor with laughter and disbelief. I had a wee bit of a reputation for sleeping in at BYU! :)
It's great, I feel like I'm living my life on purpose and when my kids wake-up at 07:00, I can spend all my time with them. I have such better control of my time and accomplish 3-4 times as much as I used to do at night. The only problem is, now I'm afraid I'm going to continue to morph into my mother (who regularly got up at 04:00 when I was a teenager. Of course that was before she moved it up to 03:00 as a senior, of course that was when we were just going to bed. :) I remember frequently promising myself that I would never be as crazy as my mom...but I guess the high fiber wheat bread, making my daughter practice the piano, folding clothes while watching a movie, and driving while nursing a baby (okay...I haven't adopted that one yet!!!) are all signs that I am eating all my teenage words and becoming just as crazy as my mom.
Oh well...I guess that's life...just thought I'd share :)
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8 comments:
Jeff let us in on your blog now I know you are possessed! How in the world do you do it? I guess you don't have a newborn to keep you up. What time do you go to bed. I would love some of that guilt free time to myself in the morning, or anytime really.
I don't know how you do it. I am about to die getting up at 6:00 am...I am such a night owl too. What time do you have to go to bed? I am fascinated by dermatology...I would love to pick your brain. Maybe you should host a question/answer session? LOL
Did your mom really nurse and drive? That is SO funny. I love it.
Once I'm in bed I'm in bed until the kids get up. I can't pull myself out any earlier than I do so I find my quiet time at night once the kids are all asleep. Kudos to you for finding what works and sticking to it.
My friend Terri only requires 4 hours of sleep if she goes to sleep early (around 9:00 pm). She says she can wake up at 1:00 am and feel just fine. She's also one of the happiest, bubbly people I know. All that and she just had her fourth baby. She's amazing!!I'm telling you, there's a whole world out there I never knew about!! I've always been just like you Julie, but now I go to bed around 9:00 pm and I feel great in the morning! If you try it for a week, you might end up liking it! Imagine all the cute cards you could make. :)
I've picked myself up off the floor! I can't believe that, Ang. But you know, that is a great idea. It is nice to feel 100% for your kids. You are a supermom!
Yea, I'm with Andrea. I'm interested in the Q and A also!
that is awesome. I need to do something like that...maybe not 4 am, but i could probably swing 5:30, even 5....right now I just wake up when the first kid starts yelling, usually Parker, usually around 6:30. I would love a few hours to myself in the morning...if only i could do early mornings AND late nights. I love my late nights too.
Good for you! I've started the 4:30 thing and I feel the same way. I love that morning study time and a good run before facing the kids and all the other unexpected events of the day. I don't know how you stay on top of a career too. You're amazing!
You gotta love those morning hours! Early to bed and early to rise makes a mom healthy, wealthy, and wise! Well, I don't know about the wealthy part!
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