Student Parent Survival Guide

Chronic exhaustion. ⠀

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Anybody else having one of those days? 🙋🏾‍♀️⠀

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Whether you work inside or outside of the home, being tired as a parent is a way of life. But, that is no excuse for not getting the job done, so we learn how to power through. 🏃🏾‍♀️⠀

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Breastfeeding & Radiology reading at the same time. Get er done. #medschool #motherhood #multitasking #MrsMommyMD

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD|MFM Fellow (@mrsmommymd) on Sep 9, 2013 at 7:26am PDT

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Here are some of my quick tips for getting your work done with kids especially while in professional school:⠀

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📝 get up early or stay up late: this one takes some time to train your body, but it’s worth it. The early morning is when I do my best work. It is quiet, I feel fresh, and there are no little humans running around.⠀

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📝 Don’t wait for the perfect conditions to study: it may not always be the way you want it, but you can study anywhere, listening to podcasts in the car, perusing through your notes or QBank questions while you’re nursing, listening to lectures while making dinner, or while your kid plays the kiddie pool ;-) Time is a potential space and you can fill it creatively throughout the day with small bursts of studying for review - even with kids around. ⠀

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Pool Partaaaay! @nathanj9

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD|MFM Fellow (@mrsmommymd) on May 15, 2013 at 1:37pm PDT

📝 use your village: when I knew that I had a week of exams at the end of the block, we would have little Nate stay with my mom or big Nate‘s mom during that time so that I could get some uninterrupted marathon studying in. And Little Nate would get grandparents’ time, so it was a win for everyone. ⠀

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📝 use your space: when I was in medical school, we bought big sheets of clear plexiglass from the hardware store to put on our guestroom wall. It was my own dry erase board for writing out things that I wanted to memorize. This helped me to create a library-like space within my home so I didn’t feel so disconnected from the family.⠀

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The House of a Med Student: Where Grown Ups Write on Walls...

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD|MFM Fellow (@mrsmommymd) on May 1, 2012 at 2:44pm PDT

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Those are my faves. You can find more tips on the med student page of my blog. 

You got this!⠀

📟 Paging all parents, share your productivity tips below!⠀

**Landau Back to School Scrubs Review**

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

As my first year of fellowship gets underway, I am even more in awe of how variable my days can be.

After dropping off the kids, my morning can range from anything from ultrasound clinic, seeing my own pregnant or postpartum patients in continuity clinic, or performing procedures in the OR suite.

At lunchtime, I am able to recharge, and then the afternoon hustle commences – just as unpredictable as the morning with dedicated learning time, research and department meetings, or more clinic. If I am not headed home for the night, at 5:30pm I head to Labor and Delivery for call. I love it all!

No two days are the same, and my schedule may change from month to month. I get bored easily when things become routine, so this is one of the many things that drew me to OBGYN. It definitely makes me love MFM – a subspecialty dedicated to the “un-routine” as they like to say.

The hospital is pretty strict on what we wear in the OR, but I get creative license with everything else :read socks, earrings, and scrub caps:

I have really enjoyed being more fashionable in clinic attire, but honestly, sometimes it is not the most practical when you could be pulled into a procedure in any moment. And y'all, even on some of our most tame days, obstetrics is messy - there is blood, and amniotic fluid, and lots you don't want to know... 

So a great pair of scrubs that makes you look the part, but is still functional, comfortable, and stylish is something you quickly learn to hold on to. The New Urbane Scrubs Contemporary Fit is just that. I had the pleasure of trying out their scrubs in “steel gray”, which is the color our division uses so I can match the rest of the MFM team…

Here are some of the things that make these scrubs special:

●     Their exclusive fabric construction is the perfect balance of breathable and flexible to keep you feeling cool and less restricted – perfect for me running from clinic to Labor & Delivery. Seriously, these may be one of the most comfortable pair of scrubs I own…They are like yoga pants!

●     The fabric has been tested for durability, shade consistency, and color fastness to keep you them looking brand new after each wash.

●     Pockets for days to keep all my essentials on hand.

●     The scrubs come in a variety of sizes ranging from XS to 5XL

●     Despite their functionality, they are also stylish – look at that neckline!

You can find Landau Urbane scrub retailers here:http://www.urbanescrubs.com/.

***I received a pair of scrubs and compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. #LoveUrbane #AcornInfluencer #Ad ***

And....We're Back! (to School)

Well, that was a fast summer...Did August even happen, or nah?

I cannot believe I am the mom to a fourth grader and a kindergartener o_O Isabelle is SO PUMPED to be at the same school as her big bro. Nate is also loving being able to get Isabelle up to speed on all things at their now-shared school in true "know-it-all" fashion.

And Mama's work life is conducive to me being a part of all the awesome First Day/Week of School hustle... seriously, my heart = FULL.

The first few days of school this year were a success! Here is the photo dump to prove it:

Nate's first day was last Wednesday...

Isabelle's been photobombing him since 2013 hahaha

Wednesday, Isabelle had a her Kindergarten visit day and then her first official day was the next day, on Thursday...

Genius classroom scavenger hunt to help them find the classroom essentials before the first day!

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my walk down First Day of School memory lane in my stories. Man, that chalkboard was money well spent! 

We don't talk much about third grade - Mama's struggle year...LOL

Hope all you parents and students are having a great start to the school year!

The Last Month of Residency and Graduation!! **WARNING SO MANY PHOTOS**

Since my Nights rotation, June has been moving at rocket speed. Mainly because there was quite a bit to do in such a short amount of time... 

I got in some much, MUCH needed family time. Including attending this cutie's Pre-K graduation!

And being around for this guy's last week of third grade!

I was able to get in my last surgeries for my graduation requirements. 

We celebrated graduation with our Wake Med family (the other hospital we rotate through as residents).

I took my last 24 hour call as a resident (!!!). 

And we had our final Wednesday didactic session. 

Then on July 16, 2018, I graduated from residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I still cannot believe it!

Residency is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done. I talk all the time about the sacrifice of medicine...The family I wasn’t able to see, the friends I was not able to travel with, and the things I was not able to buy....haha

But I have never learned and grown so much in my life as I had over the last four years. Now that residency is behind me, I am one step closer to the final leg of my journey of becoming a maternal fetal medicine doctor.

My graduation weekend was amazing. My entire family was able to come down to celebrate with us. We all packed into my house and laughed, and joked, and spent every minute we could together. There were events all weekend, and it was exhausting. But, I wouldn’t have changed a thing because there is nothing better than being surrounded by the people you love. I'm so thankful for all of them. 

Friday during the day, my class met up for an afternoon at the spa, because what better way to celebrate the end of residency than with some top tier level TREAT. YO. SELF. 

Friday night was the annual Chiefs' Roast, where the 3rd year class lovingly pokes fun at each of the graduating Chief’s with a video tribute. It’s so hilarious because your families get to see all of the ridiculous personalities you work with, and the ridiculous personality they may not know that you have when you’re at work ;-) 

Saturday night was the graduation banquet. It is a wonderful formal affair where again, all of the graduates,  both residents and fellows, get a personal tribute and toast to their accomplishments.

Can I just have a moment for my dress and shoes? YAAAAS!

 

During the ceremony, I was honored to receive the Thaddeus L. McDonald - Espirit de Corps

Award (named for our own Dr. McDonald (pictured above), which is given to the resident who represents the best of teamwork, spirit and pride *tears*

My sweet friend Carolyn did my toast. She put so much thought and care into it, and it was amazing. I cannot wait to be her co-fellow this year <3

We followed it up with dancing well into the night.

Sunday everyone went home, and I was left with wonderful memories to carry me until we are all together again...

Yesterday, I sat for my OBGYN written Boards. Afterwards, my class and I met for lunch to celebrate - minus one of us that moved to VA right after graduation *tear*

Fellowship starts on Monday, and I am pumped!

xoxo

Below is the video part of my toast. I cannot say enough how blessed I am to have such an amazing group of family and friends lifting me along the way.