White Coat Ceremony

[Stella]

SO's White Coat Ceremony is this Thursday at 2pm. He RSVP'd for me before he even told me about it. I'm really flattered that he knew he wanted me to come with his family but I don't know if I can get out of work for the whole thing at such late notice - I really want to but I just took off two days last week for moving!

So... tell me about the ceremony and how important is it? I know he wants me to go and I definitely want to, but will I be missing a really important day if I don't???

[Vanquisher]

I didn't go to dh's. I think they have different amounts of significance at different schools. No one was even invited to dh's. It was strictly for the dawkters/dawkters-to-be. I think it was supposed to be reverent and reflective of what they are entering into - the responsibiltiy, the hippocratic oath (revised at hubby's school). Families and spouses were not invited to be a part of the ceremony, and hence, I did not go. I would have liked to if it were something that we were supposed to be at, but that's just not how it was at his school. It was treated almost as an initiation into this sacred world or something.

Oh well. Sorry I don't have better advice for you! Maybe someone else who was invited can help!

[KCwife]

The white coat ceremony seems like a really big deal to them, at the time. I went, it was pretty darn boring...in the long run it has no bearing on anything IMHO....they take the "real" oath when they graduate. If you cannot make it, no worries!

[SuzySunshine]

I didn't go to DH's either, I beleive his was just students. I'm sure he'll understand if you can't make it. Maybe the two of you can go out to a nice dinner this weekend to celebrate on your own. 8)

[rainbabies]

The white coat ceremony seems like a really big deal to them, at the time. I went, it was pretty darn boring...in the long run it has no bearing on anything IMHO....they take the "real" oath when they graduate. If you cannot make it, no worries!

Ditto

[Michele]

At UF the ceremony is between 2nd and 3rd years to mark the start of thier clinical training...so it was a little more meaningfull that just starting med school....but still, I'd talk to him about it and make sure he wouldn't feel slighted, but it's probably not that big of a deal to him.

[Stella]

I'd talk to him about it and make sure he wouldn't feel slighted, but it's probably not that big of a deal to him.

I think this is the case. I told him last night I might not be able to make it. He said he really wanted to be there, but if not, it's not the end of the world. He's a guy, he doesn't have that many feelings anyway.

[Tenacious_D]

At ours there is a huge family presence. DH's mom, dad , grandfather and I went. It was a little boring but it was really nice for us all to see the start of his (and my) medical career.

No one made it for my husband's white coat ceremony, and he didn't really make a big deal out of it either. He said he wished I could have been there, but I didn't miss out on much. I'd much more rather be there for him on Match Day.

[ides]

I went to dh's white coat ceremony. He liked me being there for support, but it wasn't a big deal. Like the others have said, it was pretty borring and as I look back on it now, not that significant. We had more fun posing for pics to send to his mom after we came home.

[Gwendolyn]

For us, at the time it was a thing...It had been a life long dream of DH's and this was the official start. It was boring and looking back on it, it really was no big deal, but had I missed it, at the time it would have been a big deal for him...and I would have missed being there...We kind of dig ceremony though...

[Stella]

Okay, so I sucked it up and talked to my boss and what do you know? She said go for it! Silly what you can get just by asking. I know it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't go, but I felt that it was an important moment for me to be there to kind of solidify that we are going to do this together. In the end, it won't be the end all, be all, but right now I think it will be a significant guesture. Plus, when I called him on my way home to tell him I could make it, he said, "Really?!! That's great!!" and that made it all worth it. :---

Funny thing though, when they passed out white coats today, they gave SO a WOMEN'S Large and he had no idea why it didn't fit and the buttons were on the wrong side. He was so embarrassed and pissed! hahahahaha...

[Stella]

Hahahaha... my, we have similar ways of thinking!!!

What should we wear?!

[Stella]

The White Coat Ceremony was yesterday and I took a half day at work and made it there just in time! The ceremony was a lot of doc talk but none the less, it was enjoyable and I got to see SO get coated. Probably not the end of the world in the end, but I'm so glad I went! My baby looks pretty darn good in a white coat. (See pictures on my blog!)
Anyway, thanks everyone for your suggestions! I'm so glad I went!

(But we lost his grandmother twice!! We would be standing in a group and either his dad or his sister or me or someone would be like, "Wait, where's Grams?!" and we'd all run off trying to find the poor lady. )

It was a good time had by all and I think his family was really glad I went.

depends on him

I went last year with my hubby and it was boring and it was nice too. I think it doesn't matter if it's a big deal or not at the school but I does matter if it's important to him. If he really wants you to be there. This is something you'll have to talk with him about.