A Story from Today
Motherhood is full of many wonderful experiences. Birthday parties, trips to the beach, late night talks. Proud moments. Fun moments. Sweet moments. Moments filled with smiles and frosting and hand-holding.
Something that is most definitely not on this list is taking a child to the doctor.
Sydney had her annual check-up this morning and, it being her five-year/pre-kindergarten checkup, I knew what it would involve. And Sydney figured it out pretty quickly.
Yep, shots.
I won't bore you with a tale of the moaning and "gnashing of teeth" beforehand (or the praying I had done in preparation)...or of the crying and crying and more crying that took place during and after the appointment.
But I will tell you two little stories of conversations we had with Sydney after it was all said-and-done.
On the way back from the doctor (which involved a trip to the mall to have Chick-Fil-A, to have her favorite fast food lunch; a trip to Walmart to get a promised toy if she did well; and a trip to McDonald's for an ice cream sundae. Yes, I admit it...bribery was at work here), she several times randomly stated very loudly from the back seat:
"I'm not getting a shot never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER again."
She said this several times on the way home, and the last time she said it I counted 23 "ever"s. Needless to say, she never wants to do that again!
And then right after her appointment was over, Delaney was absolutely amazing with her. She talked to her, sat her in her lap, sat next to her in the car, told her how good she was, tried to distract her, tickled her, sang songs on the radio with her. She did anything and everything she could to make her feel better (because believe me when I tell you that I looked over three or four times during her appointment and huge tears had welled up in Delaney's eyes. She did not like seeing her little sister so sad.), and she was absolutely incredible doing so.
She had Sydney laughing through her tears and at one point Delaney asked her, "Aren't I just the best big sister you've got?"
To which Sydney answered, "I wouldn't be sure of that."
It was so funny and made her laugh, and Delaney laugh, and me laugh.
"But look how happy I'm making you," Delaney said, acting like she was upset that she didn't think she was the best.
"Well, McKenna wasn't here with me today," Sydney answered, which I thought was just so sweet. I think she knew that if McKenna had been there, she would have been just as great with her as Delaney was.
When it was all over and I finally made it home, it made me realize several truths...
Motherhood's not always easy.
Wouldn't it be great if we didn't ever, ever, ever have to get shots?
And I've got really great girls.
8 comments:
Abigail had her one year check up today and had to get shots too. I just felt so helpless! :( At least with a 1 year old she doesn't think much about it once it's over! Hope Sydney feels better!
Hooray for 3 terrific daughters. Boo on shots. And yay for medicinal fast food excursions.
Lastly, yay for motherhood. Despite the bumps, there's nothing else I'd rather do.
i have to agree with you with trips to the Doctor ;) especially having shots...
glad all went well though.
have a superb week!
Awww, poor Sydney.I hate having to take the kdis to the doctor.It just doesnt seem fair.
I love your post though. Its so true.
Marg
We did that same appt last year. The worst part wasn't the shots, it was the build up TO the shots. After the nurse announced to the 5yo that they were coming, she left the room and was gone for at least 30 minutes.
I would have rather her not prepared us at all and just come in the room kamikaze style and "shoot" him before he could realize what was happening.
You do have great girls.
:)
That's a sweet story:) I love hearing about kids who show such
love and compassion. It makes everything in life so clear.
I agree about the shots! I think
our fabulous researchers need to
come up with a way to make them
obsolete!
Leah--yeah, the shots seem to get harder to get through the older they get. Not fun!
Gretchen--Yes on everything you said! :-)
Edleen--Thank goodness it all went well. I hope you have a wonderful week too!
Marg--It really doesn't seem fair. I just hate to see them cry!
Camport--I know!! They should just catch them completely off guard! (Of course, Iam probably just as bad at it. I try and prepare her for the shots, when I really should just not even talk about it.)
L--You'd think all the geniuses out there would find a way to make them obsolete!
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