join me on this WILD RIDE as I attempt to solve life’s challenges as a working veterinarian mom of our blended family!
I’m a seasoned Emergency Room veterinarian gingerly balancing the circus act of a demanding work schedule with a house of five kids, three dogs, three cats, a pig, a lizard, and a handsome best friend/Sean that I married. I love being a mom, a stepmom, a wife and a small animal emergency vet. And I love living in our little coastal New Jersey town, in our continuous project of an old Victorian farmhouse.
Together, Sean and I throw various stuff at the wall and see what sticks, usually next to something actually sticky on the wall that is unknown and put their by our kids or pets. It’s not always the scientific approach, but I do love applying my ability to manage a vet ER to my kids and homelife. Neither of us have prior blended family experience, just instincts (which are sometimes misifirng bombs in the night). Sharing the fails, along with the wins, is what connects us all the most. Let me make you feel good by comparison if nothing else. If I accidentally impart some wisdom to you, then all the better. And I won’t be able to stop myself from giving you some vet advice along the way…
It might be possible to balance work life and home life, but then again, maybe not. What’s important is the endeavor and to know you’re not in this alone.
I promise I won’t pretend to have all the answers, except one: we are better when we are together, honest and exposed.
I am Dr. Anna, VMD, graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and current Director of Emergency and Critical Care at one of the largest tertiary referral veterinary hospitals in the country. I have 19 years of experience working as a small animal ER veterinarian and have worked in a vet ER in some capacity for 29 years! I am also mom of a blended family of two daughters, two stepsons and a son together with my husband, Sean. Yet, I still find that the biggest challenges happen at home and not at work!
Over these years, I have honed my instincts for ER vet med and have found that navigating the crazy ER has given me numerous applicable coping skills--staying calm, acting with levity, operating with a sense of humor, multi-tasking as effectively as possible, acting with compassion and prioritizing what’s important--have been life-savers for my equally as chaotic family life, helping to manage our myriad children of varying ages, from irrational toddler to fully insane teen.
The beach and my old NJ Victorian shorehouse where I can spend time with my dysfunctional Brady Bunch family are my happy places. Also, a secret underground bunker I could sometimes hide in would also probably be my happy place.
WORKING MOM · EMERGENCY VET · Chaos Coorindator
join me for all things vet, pet, child and the rollercoaster of life
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Meet Dr. Anna!
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