What do you find challenging
about raising kids, and how
have you tried to resolve
those challenges?
The funny thing about being a pediatrician
and a “parenting expert” is that it doesn’t
mean that I make any fewer mistakes than
anyone else. It’s just my job to research the
solutions and then share what works.

I’ve long held a philosophy that “you
cannot teach what you have not learned.”
But when it comes to being a parent, I think
it’s okay to recognize that we’re still learning
each step of the way, that we are all works
in progress. In fact, that’s a message I try to
instill in my kids as well.

What’s something that makes
juggling fatherhood and your
career a little bit easier?
The obvious answer is that I get to do it
with Monica, my amazing wife. She really
is incredible. She’s the glue that holds
this crazy boat together, and she’s often
the force that keeps us moving towards
the fun.

I’m also grateful that I’ve had years of
experience with meditation. My formal What are 5 things you can’t
practice is a bit hit or miss these days, but live without?
I draw on the lessons and skills I’ve learned
1. My wonderful family (of course!)
all the time.

2. Music—I’m a diehard U2 fan
3. Exercise
4. Harry Potter—Monica and I were
What do you and your family
hooked from the beginning, and it’s been a
love to do together?
blast raising
a family of Potterheads
We’re pretty tight-knit and do quite a lot
5. The 1-minute express button on the
together, but the first thing that comes to
mind is reading. Even though my kids are microwave
12 and 10, we still read together at night.

Sometimes we’ll have a story that my What would you do if you
wife will read aloud over a few weeks, or had one hour without any
sometimes we’ll all read our own books responsibilities?
in bed together (we call it “ruggling”). As Right now, the answer would be “play
someone who didn’t actually read that guitar.” I tried to teach myself guitar when
much as a kid, I’m glad to that my children I was in medical school, which is probably
are growing up readers.

the worst time to try and learn. Then resi-
dency happened, then kids, and my playing
How do you take care of your fell by the wayside.

Now in these last few months, I’ve
mental and physical health?
picked it up again and have found a joy in
I exercise a few days a week, drink primarily
water (or coffee!) and am always trying to playing that wasn’t there before. So what-
eat more plants. I’ve also long recognized ever moments I have when I’m not doing
that I have a better day when I sing— something with my family or for “The
whether it’s around the house, in the car or Child Repair Guide,” I’ve stolen away to
play guitar. n
just in the shower.

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