JP just sent this to me through text…
So, what does it take to be a successful (and happy) physician’s spouse?
The prospective spouse should be…
1) Broadminded
Doctor’s hours are erratic and may require long stints at work, especially during the years of training. Early departures from and late arrivals at home are part and parcel of many physicians’ daily grind. There really will be no sense in nagging him or her about it.
2) Understanding
Doctors endure quite a bit of work-related stress and pressure. Coping with distraught patients, overbearing superiors, and undue peer pressure can push the doctor’s tension levels to an all-time high, sometimes resulting in hair-trigger explosions or stony silent episodes. Decompressing the uptight doctor will become another priority duty of the prospective spouse.
3) Self-sufficient
Most doctors are consumed by their profession and it leaves them with very little time for anything else. The prospective spouse should not expect the doctor to cancel his clinics or surgical procedures in exchange for attending meetings and socials of the schools and community. He will probably be happier if he finds out that the problem was identified, solved, and properly disposed of by the time he gets home from work.
4) Smart
Doctors prefer to deal with people who are insightful and can catch on very quickly, because this saves them time that would otherwise be spent going into step-by-step explanations. Obviously they would prefer the same level of communication when they get home. After all, nothing can be less attractive than a dim mind.
5) Interesting
The game plan should include constant renewal and reinvention, especially when the doctors’ career starts to flourish. This will keep the relationship exciting and will decrease the chances of the doctor becoming bored and eventually straying.
Doctors are not aliens from another universe, but special quirks can separate them from the other ordinary beings. Learning to cope with their shortcomings, as well as their strengths, can result in a fruitful and eternal relationships, one worthy of all the reconnaissance and ground work required by this mission.
