According to a recent Women In Optometry Pop-up Poll, about half of the respondents said that, in general, the timing of when to have children is not a factor. However, nearly 100 respondents were evenly divided on whether career-minded women were better off having children early in their careers or later in their careers. Indeed, 17 percent said career-minded women were better off not having children.
A similar question about career-minded men seemed to show that timing was considered less of a factor on a man’s career.
Several respondents wrote short answers, often sharing their own experiences of how they achieved balance between family and professional time.
Seems to be no perfect time to have children for career focused women. For men who take a more traditional approach to parenthood, timing doesn’t matter.
Timing is not irrelevant to individuals. Everyone needs to work that out for themselves.
If you are committed to having a family, timing in your career should be way down the list of relevancy!
Children will totally change your life (for the better, of course!) regardless of when they arrive. There are pros and cons to all scenarios.
There is never a perfect time. It would be best to get a start/be established if you enjoy you situation, as they will welcome you back, even if you take extra time. The beauty of Optometry is that patients like a variety of appointment times – allowing for variable schedules that meet family needs!
I am quite tired of women ODs feeling somehow that raising children interferes with your career. I raised four children while working part-time for a “Big-Box”. BUT, my dream of being a private practice owner materialized when my youngest was in school full-time. Lest anyone thinks I had family in the area, they are mistaken! For the past 16 years, i have had a thriving practice, with the latest equipment. Yes, I plan on working in some way shape or form until my early 70s, but this is how I envisioned my life and career at this point. It was a TON of hard work and a TON of family sacrifice, but well worth it! At least one of my children are going to follow in my footsteps. It IS possible. GO FOR IT!
I had three children between age 27-37. During that time, I worked three days a week and was able to spend more time with my children than work! I worked in mostly OMD specialty practices. I learned so much and earned the respect of my local medical community. By age 40, I started a private practice of my own and ran it for 25 years—grossing over $2 million each year since 2010 and doing lots of medical co-management with OMDs who always reassured my patients that they were in good hands with my care! I sold the practice to my associate who raised six children & worked part time and eventually full time since 2010. At age 65, I work two days per week for her and make enough that I won’t need to draw Social Security or retirement money until I quit or turn 70–whichever comes first!
