Tuesday, 1 January 2019

I like my job more than my kids


My husband and I have twin 5 year olds, and I have noticed that our marriage has gone downhill slowly since then. Quick background: I am a surgeon who did a fellowship in a very sub-specialized field. I save lives (literally) for a living and I love it so much. I spent so much time/money/energy going through medical school, residency, and fellowship that there was never any way that I was going to quit. I have so much respect for SAHM, but for me, my work is the most gratifying thing I do. Which comes to our issue: I love working more than I like being a mom. My husband is a teacher but has stayed at home the past few years and just now went back to work now that the twins are in school full time.​The kids are awesome. They're probably as good as you can get for 5 year olds. The issue is that I just don't enjoy parenting. I love kids, I even watched my niece and nephew while they were 4 and 6 for two weeks while my sister and BIL were out of the country. I guess I never really bonded with them? I love them, but in the way I love my niece and nephew. I make sure to be enthusiastic and spend as much time with them as I can, but if I had a choice between working and spending time with them, I would choose work, and that's what makes me feel horrible about being a good mother.​My husband is such an incredible father. If he could have it his way he would have a dozen kids. He loves everything about being a dad and loves spending time with them. He approached me and told me that he thinks I love work more than the kids, which while I don't "love" as in would do anything for my work as opposed to my children, I do like being at work better. We still have date night once/twice a week and I love being with my husband. But work fulfills me more than being a mom. I went and talked to my psych friend, and asked what she thought. She said as long as I was being a good parent, it didn't matter if I liked work more, as long as my kids never doubted that they were loved. My husband says that he didn't expect it to be like this, and he thought I would be more invested in the kids and not be at work as much as I am. We have lots of help with the kids, as they have a nanny and we have house staff that help with the running of the house, so he's not overwhelmed with that aspect of it.​I guess to sum it up: I love my kids. I like them like I would like a friend's child/niece or nephew, but I never bonded with them like my husband has. And I'm okay with that as long as they never feel unloved or unwanted. And I don't think I can give up my greatest joy, which is being a surgeon in order to make my husband feel like I'm doing better at parenting. I was wondering if anyone had any advice? I know couples counseling would probably be an appropriate first step, but I just don't see a compromise.​Edit** Forgot to add: I try and spend as much time with them as I can when I'm off (not meaning plop them in front of the TV and not interact with them). My days/nights off are devoted to being with my children. via /r/Parenting http://bit.ly/2CKkh7h

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