Some trips are more fun than others. Traveling for work, visits to family faraway and the rarely experienced (but often fantasized about) vacation each have their own levels of preparation, anxiety and pleasure. Alex’s latest outing, taking him exactly 1.2 miles from home, was just as anticipated as journeys far away – a trip to the dentist! I enjoy selecting docs according to how cleverly their name matches their profession. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, Dr. Hitchcock was a fitting reminder of the frightful filmmaker who could induce goose bumps and screams. Once, I consulted with a cardiologist, Dr. Corazon (Spanish, meaning heart). I joke about visiting Dr. Runyon, the podiatrist, but haven’t complained of any bunions yet. So, when it was time to take my toddler to the dentist for the first time, Dr. Dove, struck me as a calm and peaceful choice. He was. Alex wasn’t. With me laying back in the dental chair and Alex held down by two dental assistants on top of me, it might have been easier to wrestle a baby bull. I’m not sure which one of us liked it less. But it was over fast and Alex popped up, flashed a smile, blew kisses to all, and picked out a treat from the toy box on the way out the door. He was, as Dr. Dove indicated, “an experienced patient.” Another mission complete.
By the time you take your kid to kindergarten, every parent should be pro at keeping up with vaccinations, administering children’s Tylenol for fevers, passing out extra kisses for bumped heads and bruised knees, putting on fun band-aids for minor cuts, encouraging Flintstone vitamins instead of candy and making teeth brushing extra fun. I was surprised to learn that children as young as 1 year are getting root canals, and with the Disney Channel pitching healthy snacks & yoga between episodes of Tigger and Pooh, it’s obvious that we all need to work a little harder to keep our kids healthy. I would never think of driving on the freeway without Alex strapped into his car seat. And, when Alex and I pack our snacks for trips around the world (or just to the park), we stock up on his favorite raisins, granola bars and string cheese. I’ll make a million mistakes as a mom, but I hope that forgetting to teach a healthy lifestyle won’t be one of them.
Only a few thousand more trips to the doctor and dentist before Alex turns 18. But, I was pleased this week when Dr. Dove confirmed he has a healthy pair of lungs. OH..and, the teeth look good too.
