Considering becoming a dentist- have conflicting goals w/ being a mother.?

I am a single 26 yr old college student. I took a few years off of school for family obligations but have completed 2 years towards getting my bachelors degree.


I've been thinking about becoming a dentist. If I did, it would take me about 6 more years of school. I will be 32 when I graduate. I also want to be a wonderful mom. I want to be at home for the first few years of my 2-3 childrens lives before they go to school and then work while they are at school.


The other concern that I have is that I don't want to work my life away. Going thru med school will be a lot of work. A lot of dentists keep working a long time after the normal retirement age. I want to be a GREAT mother and enjoy my life. Money isn't really very important to me. I would like being a dentist because it is a honorable job, and because of the sense of accomplishment and respect that there is for becoming a doctor.


I'm trying to decide what to do. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you very much!

Considering becoming a dentist- have conflicting goals w/ being a mother.?
I think 32 is young! As I am 29 and will recieve my degree at about 32 as well.





If you became a dentist your kids would be very proud and it would encourage your kids to do the same. But, another great choice is a dental hygenist.





A hygenist makes thier own hours, great pay ($34 hour), and only two years of school. I spoke to a dentist that told me if she could do it all over again, she would become a hygenist because of the hours, pay, less student loans, and you don't have to carry insurance.





Good Luck! Stay in School!
Reply:Sometimes you have to make a type of compromise. Since you want to become a dentist, a Dr. really; I wouldn't think you would want to get behind in your practice if you ever stayed home with children. What about working part time while the children are young? Being a GREAT mom doesn't mean you have to be with them all the time. I think you have wonderful aspirations but I also don't think its necessary for either occupation to suffer.
Reply:I love this! You wrote:





"I would like being a dentist because it is a honorable job, and because of the sense of accomplishment and respect that there is for becoming a doctor."





There is your why!





Passionately stick to it because your children will model after you, which is to do what they feel is honorable, have a sense of accomplishment, and gain respect for becoming what they dream about becoming.





Go for it!
Reply:Desitions, desitions. If you get into a career (anything you decide) you will be taking time from your kids whenever they are born. It will be more difficult to enjoy your kids if you are a professional. Now you're worried about your career, once you got it, you'll be worried about stablishing yourself as a profesional, so you'll decide to wait a couple more years to be a mom. Then will be that you really like your independence and you'll take one more year off. At that stage you'll be in a trendmill and it will be very difficult to stop it. So, I bet you don't want go to your kids graduation from the hospice. Good luck, and whatever you decide, do not be afraid.