Benefits of Being a Chiropractor's Family

I remember when Mark first told me he wasn't sure he wanted to be an eye surgeon.

He was leaning against the counter in our tiny $200 a month basement apartment.  His arms were folded and he just stared at me, gauging my reaction.

Honestly, I felt relieved.

I mean ... ten more YEARS of school??  I know it's worth it once you're on the other side of that coin, but I was having a hard time fathoming being in debt and living off of loans and whatever paltry teacher's salary I could get together ... if I got a job before we started our family.  What about kids?  My mom had been home for us; it was important to me to be there for them while they were small.  Would I be able to do that with med school?

Mark felt the same.  "I'm already stressed.  I feel like my time is maxed out with school; I never see you.  We don't even have kids yet!"  He was doing a double major, studying for the MCAT ... and yeah, it was pretty apparent he was stressed.  "I just can't imagine doing this for ten more years."

The direction to go from there seemed obvious.  With his dad, grandpa, uncle, and two brothers as chiropractors -- not to mention the fact that chiropractic school required the same pre-requisites as med school -- we could switch plans without making any real changes to the things we were doing at the time.

So we finished up at Utah State and moved on to California for chiropractic school.  It was stressful and fun and a real adventure.  We were certainly ready for school to be done by the end; we were both sick of living off of loans and government aid.  We were grownups; dang it!

But now, four years after graduation and three kids later ...

This was the best decision for us.

I LOVE Mark's job.  His skill as a healer is invaluable.  I can't imagine raising our babies without it.  He is my first line of defense for everything.  Ear infections, sore throat, pulled muscles; I always have Mark work on it first.  I would take my kids to the hospital next; but his treatments always do the trick.  My kids have never needed to go.

It is a lot of work to run your own business, and he feels the weight of it all.  I can tell.  But he's doing well.  People love him.  His latest review sums it up pretty well:

"So far I have really liked this chiropractor. He seems like he knows his stuff and is honest with me and my family. He seems to want to provide quality care but he doesn't push anything on you. He gives his recommendations and let's you decide. I would recommend him to family and friends. My jaw was hurting for months and after 2 visits my jaw was almost 100% better. My wife, me and our daughter (11 months old) are his patients and we will keep going to him indefinitely."

In the first three months of Mark's second year at The Works, he made more money than he did the entire year before. People like him, and they tell their friends.  And they give him gifts.  We've had several Alaskan Salmon steaks from one of his patients' most recent fishing trips, chocolate galore, clothing, and trades.  They trade their services for his; which got us a king-sized gel bed:

And private swimming lessons.

This little girl is actually swimming ... which is amazing; considering she wouldn't even let her face get wet beforehand.

And Mac?  Well he's learning strokes and diving off the diving board.

There's even a Mommy and Me class starting at 6 months old; I might have to get Harrison in next ...