Modern families are an ever-changing nucleus of the pursuit of happiness, well-being, success and security. Medical families are no exception to that; in fact, I believe they are deeply centered on such values and aspirations. While some might believe that growing up in a medical family is a blessing, others may tell you it’s a bit of a bittersweet reward.
Growing up is a tough job, regardless of who your parents are or in what society you may find yourself. When I think about what it’s like to be the child of a physician, many things come to my mind. Things like high expectations, a value for education and financial security seem to be at the top of the list. Depending on the age of that child, his or her perception of life may be slightly skewed.
Adult children seem to have an overall feeling that they were fortunate in the grand scheme of things, and despite any challenges growing up, they have come out the other side better for having such strong parents. Teenage children seem to begin to feel the pressure to succeed and maybe following in their parent’s footsteps. In many cases, they are expected to behave better than their peers, perform at a higher level on exams and be an example for their younger siblings.
Source: Growing up in a medical family: The good and the bad
