'Two hats can be hard to wear'.
I wear my two hats proudly now, that of a mother of a child with a disability and that of a doctor. My 'mother hat' is not removable. I have tried to separate myself from it at times, but that is too painful--it is a part of me. My 'doctor hat' is rather like a smart balaclava. It is appropriate and useful in specific situations. It can be pulled over my eyes to hide how I feel and, at times, offers some protection. But it can also obscure my vision and sometimes causes me to stumble over obstacles I may otherwise have successfully negotiated.
Tracy
J
J
Department of Community Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D010821:Physicians, Family