When it comes to locations I'm one of those crazy authors who has to see it touch it taste it before I trust myself to recreate it for my readers. Having said that visiting a locked-down pediatric psych ward was the most intimidating research I've ever done - and I've visited maximum security prisons shooting galleries bone collections etc.
I love kids so two things that I have thought about are being a pediatrician or a kindergarten teacher.
I loved raising my kids. I loved the process the dirt of it the tears of it the frustration of it Christmas Easter birthdays growth charts pediatrician appointments. I loved all of it.
It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician.