So, you're dating a Medical Student…what are you thinking?! Well, if you're anything like me, I know exactly what you are thinking. You are thinking that you are in love, and Medical School can't be that bad, and he's obviously worth it. But now you're sitting at home alone, ready to pull your hair out because you haven't talked to your boyfriend in days. You're thinking that he can't possibly be studying for 16 hours straight, which obviously means that he's cheating on you. You're thinking that the next time you see him you're going to tell him that you can't do this anymore…that you deserve better. But then he shows up looking all McDreamy in his Doctor's coat with a stethoscope hanging around his neck, which turns your knees to jello and your brain to mush, and you forget why you were so mad at him in the first place. Yeah, I've been there. Here's how to make it through. Because, after all, in a mere 8, 9, 10 years, it will all be worth it!
- 1) Be Understanding. Understand that Medical School is a very difficult, stressful road. Your boyfriend will be studying. All the time. The sooner you come to grips with the fact that you're never going to see him, the better. But instead of pouting about it in solitude, why not bake some cookies to bring him at the library? He will appreciate the sugar kick, and his classmates will complement him on landing a super cool girl. Win-Win.
- 2) Don't get jealous. Remember, he's a Doctor. Or at least a Doctor-In-Training. He's going to see a lot of breasts. A lot. He's going to feel them too. And just because he's off feeling some other girls breasts doesn't mean that you should go all Britney on his butt and take a baseball bat to his car window. This is a learning process for him…it's not something that he is enjoying. But why not shoot him a text one afternoon anyways volunteering as tribute? You know what I mean…
- 3) You're not dying. Trust me, you're not. But your boyfriend will think you are. After studying the different types of cancers for the past 6 weeks, he will be 100% positive that your PMS cramps are a sure sign of ovarian cancer. Or when you let out a cough, he will quickly check your temperature, feel your lymph nodes and look down your throat for signs of disease. Make sure to keep your complaints to a minimum so as not to set off any uber sensitive alarms anymore. And just because your boyfriend is now a hypochondriac, doesn't mean that you need to be too.
- 4) Don't be easily offended. Your boyfriend will wash his hands, and he will wash them often. When he walks in a room, he will wash his hands. When he gives you a hug, pets the dog, or takes off his shoes, he will wash his hands. This is not a sign of your lack of hygiene, or an indication that you need to do a better job of cleaning the apartment. It is a sign that your boyfriend is doing well in school, because when he is scored on his role-playing type tests, he will be docked points if he doesn't wash his hands first. It will get to the point where he doesn't even realize how often he is washing his hands anymore. All you can do is make sure that the soap dispensers around the house remain full. And that you give him the extra 30 seconds he needs to wash his hands before giving you any love.
- 5) Get a Hobby. Finally, the best piece of advice I can offer you is to get out of the house. Go out with the girls. Join a book club. Take a weekly Zumba class. Throw yourself into your career. Do something. Anything. The worst thing you can do for your relationship is to sit at home, letting your frustrations and anger boil up until you explode. That's not fair to you, and it's certainly not fair to your boyfriend. Remember, this is your future too. The better your boyfriend does now, the more success (and more $$) you both will have in the future. And remember, this is probably the only time in your life that you have a hall pass to go out every night of the week. Enjoy it!
