Mini Me had an extra credit school assignment to abstain from all social media for one week. She signed a contract of intent, and parents' participation was optional.
It was tougher than I thought it would be….
All in Doctorly Musings
I Love You, I Know
This is a work in progress. I was inspired to write a picture book based on these famous Star Wars lines. But it ended up being an ode to my bookworm girls. So, in honor of Mother's Day, here it is. I love you, Mini Me and Little Lion. Seven and a half plump-tillion pieces.
i need to listen more
i need to listen more
Period.
As a doctor, and definitely as a mom, I need to listen more.
L.A. Times Festival of Books 2018
Dr. Bookworm recounts the Bookworm family adventures at the 2018 L.A. Times Festival of Books. Plus, there’s Leslie Odom, Jr. involved. :D
The Theater
There was some point in my life when I couldn't stand musicals, didn't understand why the actors would burst out into song, seemingly out of nowhere.
Much like my eventual love of Shakespeare though I had been skeptical (and I saw ALL the RSC Shakespeare production shows the summer of 1994), I grew back to love musical theater.
Doctors as Teachers
Earlier this month, the world lost an amazing doctor. The thing is that it's not only a loss for the children's hospital that he tirelessly advocated for and for the patients and families he took care of, it's a huge loss for the doctors he was training.
Some Days I Feel Like this AT-AT
Some days I feel like this AT-AT. Like I'm losing the mom war. Yes, it's a war some days....and sometimes I'm not winning. It's not even close.
Soulmates and a Teacher's Legacy
Do you remember the names of all your teachers? I don't remember all their names but I remember their important lessons.
My type of PTSD
By definition, PTSD doesn't really go away....it's just that not everyone understands that I have PTSD. I didn't know it myself until I heard my therapist say it off-hand. Like it was a given. And that it was okay.
Just like I didn't realize that I had 'depression' until she said it. I thought I was grieving. But I also wasn't functioning as well. So "acute depression" it is. It's interesting that we tend to stay away from 'labels' and 'diagnoses' even as medical professionals. But, years later, I can say that I had depression. And that it was okay. I'm okay.
National Women Physicians Day 2018
Last year, I wrote about the many women physicians who have inspired me along my own journey, most importantly my mom. This year, I'd like to write about the many patients who inspire me.
There have been so many families who have let me into their lives. Too many to count, so many that share the little things that matter so much. I feel honored to be a part of that, a tiny part of helping out their kids. And too many details for me to write without invading privacy.
But let me just say this: thank you.
Thank your for the privilege and the trust you put into us as your child's doctor.
Mix It Up AKA The Friendship Orange
Little Lion’s second grade teachers have started a new thing this year and I love it. I don’t know what they call it, but I’m officially calling it “Mix It Up”. Each month, they are placed at certain lunch tables on Wednesdays and that is their Wednesday lunch group. The teachers mix up the kids so they sit with that group on Wednesdays only. The rest of the week, they get to choose where to sit.
It’s a brilliant idea. Little Lion is making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
Discovering My Heart
“Your heart is like the ocean, mysterious and dark.”
~ Bob Dylan
This quote is on one of the cards in our Macy calendar this month. I’ve been taking the quotes to heart this year, trying to find meaning in each one, just as I meant for my little family to do when we were making them together last year.
Icky January
January is when I start to feel icky. And by 'icky', I mean restless and crawling out of my skin. It has only hit me in small bursts this year, but in the early morning hours of this Saturday morning, I'm feeling it. My family is asleep. Usually Mr. Bookworm is up writing by now. I'm wide awake because I woke before my alarm.
Best Nine
Instagram goes crazy this time of year with everyone's Best Nine. You haven't heard of it? It's the nine most 'liked' pictures you've posted over the year.
And in this quiet morning (it's the day before Christmas as I write this, and, no, I'm still not ready), I started thinking about a different 'Best Nine'. What am I proud of this year?
My Heart is So Full
Our house isn’t ready for Christmas. My stack of cards, unaddressed, is still sitting there. We don’t have our tree up yet because we’ve been sick. Our stockings aren’t hung by the chimney with care. (Though Mr. Bookworm has taken our Christmas boxes down from the attic.) And though we have lots of presents, none of them are wrapped. There is no guarantee of any of those things actually getting done this weekend either—not with us being sick. And that’s okay.
The only thing that MUST get done today is the movies. Because we’re off to see The Last Jedi today.