When my kids were babies and needed to get their shots, I remember being able to barely keep it together as they screamed and sobbed after each poke. I remember holding each kid tightly as they cried in pain. When they're so small, words fail them. Instead they cry and sob through the whole procedure.
I remember one particularly awful visit when they needed to get 3 shots in their tiny little thighs. As they wailed, I remember thinking that those chicken legs are for tickles - not needles - and I'm sure they would've agreed had they been able to find the words.
Last night I took Crowbar to his 4 year-old check-up. The first part was fun for him. He passed the vision test without barely even trying and he had both the nurse and me laughing during his hearing test. (No babe, you don't get extra credit for hearing sounds that aren't there.) The nurse and I even joked about the difference between hearing and listening tests.
The boy laughed and charmed his way through his whole exam, even prompting the doctor to remark on his happy-go-lucky demeanor.
That is, until it was time for his vaccinations. Poor Crowbar got 4 different shots, 2 in each arm. And things were different now, because instead of only cries to voice his displeasure, Crowbar was armed with words.
Poke.
"OW! Why did you do that?!?" After a split second of shock, the tears came.
Poke.
"DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" he screamed as he clutched his 102 Dalmatians book to his chest. He wasn't just scared and hurt. He was pissed.
The nurse was very sweet, apologizing the whole time and yet working quickly, expertly. She asked him to turn the other way (so she could get at his other arm) and he flat out refused.
"I SAID NO!" He yelled.
Poke.
"WHAT!?!" Incredulous that this woman was still poking him, he began to squirm and fight. As she reached for the last shot, Crowbar announced, in a rage.
"I HATE THIS OFFICE!"
A final poke and it was over.
I tried to cradle him in my arms, but he was too pissed for my coddling. He hopped off my lap and stood, with his fists clenched.
"I DON'T LIKE THIS PLACE!"
Three kids with multiple vaccinations and I've never had one react that way. He was scared and upset, sure, but more than anything he was angry -- enraged even.
As we made our way out to the lobby, Crowbar continued to voice his outrage.
"I hate this place. These are stupid stickers. I hate that chair. My arms don't work."
He met another preschooler in the waiting room and directed his rants to the poor kid.
"That doctor's mean. They're ALL mean."
The kid wiped his nose and wordlessly watched Crowbar storm through the reception area, his arms dangling limply at his sides.
"Let's get out of here!" He head-butted the handicap door opener and the electric door sprang open. As we exited the building he announced,
"NEVER AGAIN!"
Crowbar griped and grumbled all the way out to the van and most of the way home, until he announced he was hungry and wanted a bowl of cereal. At that point, I certainly wasn't about to piss him off more. If promising him a bowl of Kixx would keep his anger from being directed toward me, it was a good deal.
For almost 10 years, I've been urging my kids to use their words. To say what they want, instead of just crying or whining.
And last night, one of them listened.
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4 comments:
Ha ha ha!!! You had Dan and I laughing out loud! Sadly, James just had 2 shots (1 in each thigh) and it was horrible to watch, poor kid.
How was Crowbar feeling the day after the shots? Sore arms?
Hilarious Jess!! I can totally picture it.
Ha... and with Ben's 4 year check up coming up soon, I had been hoping the visit would be easier on me than Sarah's frequent baby appts and multiple shots. Bummer. I guess not.
Crowbar's day after wasn't so good. His daycare teacher reported that he was really grumpy, complained that his arms hurt and fell asleep at lunch. He slept for 4 hours and then woke up a happier boy.
I remember when the twins were newborns. The doctors were concerned about Deuce - her skin was tomato red and they said her red blood cell count was really high. As a result, they had to do a lot of blood draws on her, which they took from her heels. I remember her feet were black and blue from all the pokes and squeezing. I was a total wreck and am still glad to this day that she has no memory of it.
It's the worst, seeing your kids get poked.
Good luck with Ben's 4-year old appointment. Aside from the shots, it's a fun appointment with the hearing and vision tests and all.
This is SO the post you should submit for the essay contest. It's priceless!
I'm glad to hear that Crowbar has recovered from his horrible ordeal. It may take a lot of bribery to ever get him back to that doctor's office, though.
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