repetitive/irrational arguments

May 19, 2010

I have been having the EXACT same ridiculously repetitive/irrational argument

with my nada every time I talk to her and I don't know how to make it stop so I

would LOVE any advice. Here's the situation:

I went through medical school and started residency in general surgery, realized

I hated it and pretty much did medicine because my parents forced me to

(starting when I was 5 and wanted to be a writer). So I left residency to pursue

my real passion- health care policy. I studied for the GMATs and started

applying to b school without letting my nada and fada know I left residency.

You can imagine how horrible it was when I told them I left residency and wanted

to go to business school! My nada impeded much of the process although she still

only wanted me to attend a top ten school. Due to the timing of when I quit I

applied extremely late and only got into one school. It is highly ranked and

specializes in health care policy but is not a " top ten school " .

So here is nada's continuing argument:

- I failed and didn't get into a top ten school so I can't pursue business now

- no one makes money in business and there are no jobs

- anyone who's not a physician makes less than 50k

- I will never get married if I don't do residency because I am now undesirable

- I can do residency until I get married and then quit (this is actually what

every female in my family has done)

- Although I am an MD and (will) have passed all of the medical boards, I am not

a physician

Thank god I have limited our conversations to once a week but I don't know how

to deal with this anymore! I actually address every one of her concerns with

hard evidence proving them wrong but she won't listen to me. On top of that, we

make zero progress and start the argument from the beginning every single time

we talk. Any suggestions?? I feel like her intensity has picked up since b

school is starting soon and it's going to become a reality so I'm really worried

that it's even going to get worse. I just started her on weekly phone calls so I

don't think I can realistically restrict it more than that yet. DESPERATE for

suggestions!!

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