A Real Talk Reflection for Veterinarian Moms and Dads
We’re great at caring—for patients, for clients, for every fur baby that walks through our clinic doors. But when it comes to our own kids, many vet parents quietly ask themselves:
“Am I spoiling them?”
“Am I hovering too much?”
“Am I raising them right… or raising them soft?”
Let’s unpack that.
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Why Vet Kids Sometimes Seem “Spoiled”
- Guilt Comes with the Gown
We miss birthdays, field trips, and bedtime stories because emergencies don’t wait. So when we finally get time off, we pour everything into our kids—sometimes too much. “Sige na, anak. Kahit hindi kailangan, ibibili na kita.”
- We Know Struggle, So We Shield Them
Many of us worked hard for everything—student loans, sleepless nights, emotionally draining cases. So now that we can give our kids a better life, we do. But in trying to protect them from hardship, are we also protecting them from resilience?
- We’re Used to Control
We’re trained to assess, diagnose, and fix things. When we see our kids struggle, our instinct is to intervene. Agad-agad. Hover. Guide. Protect. But sometimes, that’s not helping—it’s hovering.
Are We Helicopter Parents?
Maybe.
We plan their schedules down to the hour.
We worry about every scratch, failure, or missed opportunity.
We tell them how to speak, eat, dress, and even how to “act grateful.”
But here’s the truth:
We do it because we love them.
Because we want better for them.
Because we never want them to feel the fear or fatigue we’ve known in practice.
Still—too much control can stunt confidence.
And sometimes, our greatest gift is stepping back.
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So, What Can We Do?
1. Replace Control with Trust
Trust that your kid will figure things out—even if it’s messy. Struggle builds spine.
2. Teach Gratitude, Not Guilt
Explain how hard you work, not to make them feel sorry—but to help them appreciate what they have.
3. Let Them Fail, Safely
Failure under your watch is better than failure they face unprepared. Let them stumble while you’re still around to guide them.
4. Model, Don’t Micromanage
Show them how you handle problems, how you rest, how you make time for family. They’ll mirror what you do—not just what you say.
5. Love Loudly, Let Go Quietly
Support them. Cheer them on. But give them space to grow into their own skin.
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Final Thought
We may be veterinarians by training, but we’re parents by heart.
And while we may be tempted to fix, to hover, and to give everything we never had—let’s also remember:
Strong kids aren’t born from comfort.
They’re raised by love that knows when to hold on… and when to let go.
DISCLAIMER: BABY NOT MINE. PROPS ONLY.
Sharing this helps others understand what it really means to be a vet. Like and follow if you’re with us.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
