Mommy Woes and Wonders
One of the worst parts of parenting is taking a child to the doctor, particularly when you know they have to get a shot, or three.
We are sending in the pre-K registration papers which include the pediatrician form. I had emailed her to see if we should bring it in or could send by mail. Turned out Sara Ellen was due for booster shots so we headed in today. I just told her she had an appointment, she was actually looking forward to it and spoke happily with Dr Geetha. Then came vaccination time. Oi! First she spoke very calmly about not getting them, but when the nurse brought in the tray… she got more insistent and escalated to squirming and crying. No amount of promised treats, logic (relax and it’ll be over soon), or gentleness helped. Eventually we got a hold of her and she received two in one leg and one in the other. I’m sure she felt some pain but she didn’t cry out as one might expect after her behavior. There wasn’t any further unhappiness though she did walk a little stiffly.
On the way home we listened to music from Vacation Bible School. One of the songs could be called the Jesus cheer. On exiting the doctors office, Sara Ellen seemed better, however it took some time for me to get over the unhappiness. When she began singing, I started to feel better, hearing my girl worshiping.
We pulled into the garage and Eliza hadn’t yet woken so I let Sara Ellen keep listening to the music while I started switching laundry (the machines are in the garage). When Eliza woke I picked her up, turned off the car battery to Sara Ellen’s dismay and unbuckled her as well. Then she started talking about shots again and I’m sad to say that broke my happy mood, making moving laundry while holding a baby even harder.
While you might think I have a huge well of patience, and perhaps I do, it was very trying having to manage the lunch needs of myself and Sara Ellen while either holding a baby or listening to her cry in the bouncy seat. I had also told Sara Ellen she could watch Mary Poppins but then she asked if she could put it on. This sounds very reasonable of course but if she couldn’t put it on then, I would have told her she couldn’t watch it yet. Deep breaths….
I got our sandwiches made and we sat down to our respective videos. As soon as she was finished, she asked for the ice cream I promised her. I was surrounded by plates, a baby, and a laptop table. When I finished, Eliza needed a change. One of her traits different from her sister is that she lies calmly during a change and can even sleep through it! She was asleep when I finished and I remembered the need for toilet and bathtub cleaning. Well, I left Eliza where she lay and got it done, two toilets and the removal of a work of tub art. I heard another request for ice cream while scrubbing and served us both afterwards. I was going to serve Sara Ellen when she asked that time as both scooping and scrubbing require both hands (baby-free tasks) but I forgot when I turned around and saw the work still to be done.
I suppose she is developing her own well of patience with me. She had plenty to deal with: a mother who always has to care for baby first and isn’t up for most of the outings suggested, getting stuck with three needles, and having to wait for the ice cream promised to her. As often as I feel like yelling, it’s surprising she doesn’t.
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