Last night I had to pick up Trixie (5) from swimming.
Random conversation from the ride home:
Trixie: “Why are you even a doctor?”
Me (anticipating soulful response): “Well, I like to help people. And doctors get to help people. I think that’s a great job.”
Trixie: “I think being a doctor is a terrible job. Doctors have to be away from their families a lot of the time.”
Me: “That’s true. Doctors usually have to work pretty hard. And sometimes they have to help people when they want to be at home with their families.”
Trixie: “Well, I think it’s bad because you have to bring your own lunch to work every day. I thought you’d turn out to be something else.”
Me: “Hmm, that’s interesting, especially since I’ve been a doctor for over 13 years and you are only five. What did you think I should be?”
Trixie: “I’m not telling you to change your job or anything [Editorial note: this is a direct quote!], but I don’t want to be a doctor. I’m going to be a ballet teacher.”
Me: “That’s cool. It’s important to do what you want.”
Trixie (musing): “I wonder if there’s an opening for an acrobat….”
[End scene].
Oooooooph “I thought you’d turn out to be something else” just slays me. I’m with her, though. I ask myself regularly why I even want to be a doctor…
I know, right? But it’s still worth it in the long run. Phenomenal career.