5 Myths about Doctor’s Kids

Doctors' children mean the whole world to them. Yes, it sucks to miss many of their milestones while you are working inhumane hours at the hospital saving lives, or getting paged to excuse yourself out of your kid’s birthday party for the 10th year in a row. Hopefully the doctors’ families get a bit more understanding and support from the society.

1. Silver spoon

I’m not harping on this. I borrow money from my 8 year old (Mini Wise Money) to pay off my high-interest student loan. Sure, I made her an irresistible deal of guaranteed 10% annual interest, but she gets the idea quickly as a four-year-old, “Mommy, you are the poorest, hardest working person I know.”

Most doctors’ kids are raised with metal spoons, possibly from the good will (given the nomadic life style required of a physician in training. We moved nine times before settling for internship/residence/fellowship in the same town, which in itself, without jumping through many hoops during interview seasons as 4^th year, is rare.)

2. Selfish brats

They learn early on the value of service to others. They know, when explained and embodied by their loving parents, that the only reason that daddy or mommy is absent from your piano recital is because he or she is saving the life of another adorable kid like you. It’s not because of money…not because of fame or anything self-serving that your parents miss such an important moment with you.

Kids see the example and become very caring and giving themselves.

3. So smart that they don’t need any help

They are frequently too smart for their own good. They are precocious little ones that may tell a stranger at dinner party to eat broccoli to avoid colon cancer; tell their school friends to cut back on sugary foods so they don’t go blind or lame one day (just a few things Mini Wise Money has said).

They also suffer from a pretty strong and relentless attitude of self-awareness and self-examination. They are their own hardest critics. They are driven without external forces.

4. Confident

Not exactly. Unfortunately, this may be a trait-breeds-trait situation. The constant evaluation from head to toe and the medical training/hazing doctors go through doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. So while many doctors are high performing/functioning human beings with inversely proportional levels of self-confidence, and many of their kids suffer the same.

5. They naturally will be doctors too

Some doctors’ kids will not touch a career in medicine with a 10-foot pole after seeing what their parents went through. Some kids are inspired by their parents to stand on the shoulder of the giant they love and adore. Some kids, like Mini Wise Money, said, “I will only be a doctor if I can skip residency. It’s a cool job without that part.”

It’s never easy to come after and related to a well-respected, extremely successful individual. Give the children of doctors the benefit of the doubt. They may sound really smart and know a lot; they are kids after all. Build them up like you would any other child. Challenge them without crushing them. Love them; imagine all the moments this kid’s dad/ or mom missed with him or her while saving the lives of others.

You may also enjoy reading 5 myths about doctors our society believes and 5 Myths about the Dr.’s Wife (or Husband). Join us in Physician Support Initiative to make healthier, happier, and more effective doctors.

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All articles by DWM are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a professional accountant, financial adviser or lawyer, before making financial decisions.