Life as a Doctor Mom

Book excerpt: Lauren had it all together. An awesome husband, a flourishing career as a doctor, all the sleep she ever wanted, and socks that always matched. Then Lauren had a baby, and from that point forward, having it all together felt like a distant memory. The perpetual pile of laundry at home was just as tall as the perpetual pile of unfinished charts at the office. Four hours of uninterrupted sleep during an overnight call shift felt like a holiday. Mystery splotches, not cute earrings, accessorized every outfit. She had previously managed to commit 310 clinical practice guidelines to memory, yet she would now forget her four-item grocery list. And her son's first birthday. When she began repeatedly showing up to work with maple syrup in her hair and only one sock on (if she was lucky), she realized that life would never be the same. She would probably never find that second sock, and it was now acceptable that eczema lotion coated everything she owned thanks to her toddler's curiosity. In a series of bright and witty paintings, Life as a Doctor Mom depicts the day-to-day happenings that occur while juggling motherhood and medicine, yet is relatable to all moms regardless of their profession. There's very little reading required - a perfect distraction for when you're wearily lying awake at 3:00 AM wondering why neither your toddler nor your patient have pooped in five days.