Medic Parenting Guide Whether or not your medic family gathers round a metaphorical Christmas tree to give presents to each other on regular occasions, or is better suited to an episode of Jeremy Kyle, the time has now come to invite a new member to your family fold. That’s right, it’s time to go and meet your medic child! They’re probably bursting with both nerves and questions, so don’t just take them to A-floor café and abandon them armed with a flapjack. You might be the first medic they’ve spoken to, so take them for a drink or a coffee and make sure you’ve swapped numbers and answered their questions. What does your child expect of you? “I wanted them to be there all year and, if I’m honest, for the rest of medical school.” “Especially at the start when everything’s scary and you don’t really know what you’re doing, I needed answers to questions quickly!” “My ideal parent would want to help as much as possible, and be supportive and check up on how I’m getting on.” “To be sociable. I’d love to meet my extended family!” “I’d love to have a family that isn’t just there at the beginning, but is there all year, and to have a parent who ends up as a really close friend.”
Here are a few things they might want to know about: •How to interpret the timetable •The different modules in freshers’ term •How much work they need to do •How to survive freshers’ week •The cocktail party (and all that it entails!) •Societies and sports •Nightlife •Where to go for support if they’re struggling And don’t forget to give them your number and email address!
Our guide to being a good medic parent •Ring them a few times in freshers’ week •Invite them to cocktail pre-drinks •Buy them a drink if you see them out and about •Offer to help them with anatomy •Pass on any textbooks you no longer need •Introduce them to your friends •Incest is a no-go. Just don’t. •Organise a family social so they can meet their extended family •Remember all the stuff you found difficult – if you’ve got HDT slides in a handy format, or coursework templates you don’t mind sharing, then do it! •Take them for a coffee so you can have a proper catch-up •Keep in contact throughout the year! What to do if your kid abandons you? Lots of kids end up orphaned, and occasionally parents are left childless! Never fear, either adopt a child (you can’t have too many parents) or come and find your wonderful, amazing welfare rep (me) and I can reassign you someone who is parentless and in need of some love! On that note, if you’ve been abandoned yourself and would like a new parent to help you through the minefield that is second year, just give me a buzz. Remember: a medic child is for life, not just for Christmas! Compiled by Gemma Dracup – Welfare Officer