Power Couple? I wanted to be a part-time pediatrician and mostly stay at home mom. But here we are.
February 2, 2026
by Dr. Plastic Picker
I think I may have used this picture in the last blogpost? I’m back here on the blog and actually on my old computer that is mostly broken. I still haven’t figured out how to log onto the blog from my new computer? I’m old and technology is still very challenging for me. But I’m here because the blog has always been my emotional diary to share my plastic picking journey!
I went to the beach this weekend and had a great adventure picking up trash along the beach. It was mostly styrofoam bits which are so interesting when they are weathered as they become this intense dirty yellow/gold color. It’s hard to spot if you aren’t an experienced plastic picker! Styrofoam isn’t plastic but I still pick up non-plastic things.
This really did all start with picking up trash, and now 7 years later I’ve been offered a faculty position at our HMO medical school! I’m really excited about it since it really will help me figure out how to extend our work on climate and health. Titles are super important, and whatever title they give me from HMO medical school will be enough! I’ll still be doing clinical work mostly, but now will mentor officially at the medical school and teach during their climate and health course which is every April. Our youngest is off to college, and I’ll have more time and probably use my educational leave time to go up there to teach.
Mr. Plastic Picker is now Chief of his department too! It’s funny how all of this happened around the same time. Our youngest has about 45 days until she finds out which of the 26 schools she applied to, will be her college home for 4 years. Honestly, being her mother has been so easy especially now that she’s 17 years of age and a self sufficient teenager. When she’s off to college next year, I need to keep busy and teaching students and meeting new people and doing new projects is always fun!
It’s so funny though. When I came to our HMO over 16 years ago, I actually didn’t want a full time job. I wanted a part time position and to be home with the kids. I had two little ones back then, and it was physically painful for me to be away from them. I was like every other mother I’ve ever met, I wanted to be with my babies. But having trained so long to be a pediatrician and the family and community that surrounded me, I was pushed into full time work. With the ebbs and flows of being a working mother, and the turmoil of feeling like I didn’t have a choice back then – I am now grateful. I am grateful that I chose my children and the earth 7 years ago, and left middle management and decided that every day I had left was important. I’m not sure what I would tell the young me from 16 years ago. I’m not sure if I would ever get along with her. But I would certainly admire her and cheer her on. I think she would cheer the current me on too.
Having a cheerleading squad, those that fundamentally believe in you is so important. I had one person that I admire not cheer me on, and actually questioned if I was qualified to teach climate and health. I admire this person and I realize it comes from their own insecurities. But it really hurt. The emotions and pettiness are all very real. And climate and health physicians have their own egos.
But I told the ones that I know are cheerleading the collective us on, and it felt good to reconnect with them and let them know my good news.
That’s it! I’m not posting or writing as much about the kids because they are adults or almost adults. It’s to give them privacy and as my son said “stay out of their business” to let them decide their lives. It’s been so fun to continue to be their mother, and to get to know all the fun details!
I’m continually grateful to my cute college boyfriend now husband. We had our happy ending, and now we are trying to make sure our kids get to have their happy ending (and other children out there too) by working toward a better world and saving as much of our climate/environment as possible.
Wow! It’s Monday and I’m working the staggered shift today! It ends at 730 though so it’s not bad.