The Rough Ride Home.

So tonight I got a text from my wife…

“You need to go pick up Hamish.

He’s resting on the floor of after-school care with a fever and headache.”

I got to school.

He was lying on the floor, still.

I asked if he wanted me to carry him… he said no.

I called out to Pippa… “let go, buddy… Hamish is sick, let's get home”

We walked to the car.

We all jumped in.

I started driving.

And then…

From the back seat, Pippa’s voice piped through…

“Daddy, I want to go to Woolworths”

I said… “No.”

“But Daddy, I want another furry toy animal for my bag.”

“No Pip. We are going home”

“But Daddy, I will be quick.”

“No Pippa, Hamish is sick, we are going home.”

And next…

It started.

Yes... The Banshee screams began.

High pitched, ear piercing and highly unpleasant.

On, and on, and on.

“Pippa, Hamish is sick… Have some respect”

The Banshee calls escalated.

The minutes literally felt like hours.

With 3–4 minutes to go, Hamish broke down crying.

It was simply too much…

Being sick and having his sister losing her shit over the fact she didn’t get a furry toy animal decoration for her bag.

I went to meditation as I drove home.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

We finally got home and I got Hamish out of the car and into the shower.

Pip was still screaming so I moved the school bags and my teacups from the car.

I went back and she had settled.

We came in, put on Netflix and got her some popcorn and seaweed snacks.

Hamish got out of the shower and into his pajamas.

I started the fire.

And everyone settled.

The Banshee had left the building.

Thank God.

As I drove home I was thinking… Maybe I should have just got a toy.

I wouldn’t have had to endure the screaming.

Hamish wouldn’t have had to endure the screaming.

But I knew I had made the right choice.

Getting Hamish home quickly was the right move, even though we had to endure Pip’s screaming.

So the lesson from this whole experience is…

“Pain is temporary”

Yes, the whole car trip home was horrible.

And when I chose to make the decision to go straight home, I did not know that the 15-minute scream session was coming.

But, it was more important to get Hamish home than giving in to Pip’s demands… and once the screaming was over, it was just another memory.

If you are sitting your exams, then you will know that there is work to be done.

There is a pain to get through.

Early mornings.

Long periods of study.

Difficulty sorting out what’s important, what’s not.

And then the 3 intense, high stakes exams.

This can be a painful experience.

Know that the pain ends.

When you get your Fellowship, the whole of your life opens up to a different space.

And you realize that making the commitment to get your Fellowship, despite the pain and suffering, was the right decision.

If you want a better way through your exams, to accelerate your learning and double down on your commitment to your own future as a GP, then head over to https://graduatemedicine.com/gpea and begin your training.

I’m going to go and put Hamish to bed early, and give my Pippa a big hug for all of her challenges and all of her indomitable spirit.

Study hard. Do work. Become a better GP, today.