Dentists and Foreshadows

We're in the car. AB has a balloon from Trader Joe's. I roll down her window because she asks me to. We start moving. Her balloon flies out the window to be trapped by the window going up. I roll it down, R grabs it. AB asks why that happened. R launches into a discussion about air density and areas of lower and higher pressure. He goes on for a long time, but dammit she listens. He wraps up with, "Does that make sense?" AB says,

"No."

We both were rolling. Too perfect. At least she's honest. Served him right, dammit! He gets all defensive, "Well! She's going to understand it!"

AB had her first dental cleaning this morning. It was amazing. This is her second visit, as they do a checkup visit at two years to simply introduce kids to the concept and screen for early problems.

We prep her with Dora books and brush extra well, largely to get it in her head what's going to happen. I talk about laying down in the dentist's chair, since it's a vulnerable position. We get there. She is playing and having fun. They come to get her, and we find out we're not recommended to go back with her. No problem. I completely get that. The woman takes her hand. She is a little shy, but she goes. R begins pacing like a caged lion, which he will maintain the entire time she is back there without him. I laugh and grab a People and some coffee. I am relaxed yet waiting.

It happens. A woman calls our names. She takes us back to see AB in the chair. We peek. She is laying there, mouth open wide, as the Dr. examines her teeth and talks kindly to her as distraction. The assistant tells us she was amazing and wonderful and the cleaning is completely finished. This news, combined with the kindness and extra effort the staff showed in allowing us to come back and peek at her is more than I can take. I'm done.

I turn. Tears are streaming, much as they are threatening to right now. So happy for her. So proud. I sit back in the lobby chair and dab at my eyes. No tissues. R comes out and leans over me. We have a smiling happy proud parent moment.

Five minutes later they bring her. She has several toys and cannot wait to show them all to us. The woman crows about how good she was, we go wrap up the administrivia, talk briefly to the Dr. (tartar - fight it with inc. flossing of lower front, slight overbite, will likely need braces), and we're off.

Amazing. What a child.