Thoughtful Spending

When Noah began receiving therapy through First Steps, I didn’t realize I would become a therapist myself.  Although he received speech and occupational therapy once a week, I was expected to continue with his treatments the other six days they did not visit.  I took my job seriously and followed their directives to the letter, sometimes at the expense of my own sanity.  Noah hated the brushing sessions, and the listening and swinging therapies sometimes made him sick to his stomach.  But, I wasn’t willing to miss even one day of treatment.  I felt Noah was counting on me.   

There was a moment though, when I realized I had stopped thinking of myself as a mom.  The woman who had brought home a bundle of joy, swaddled in dreams and good intentions, had become someone I no longer recognized.  My thoughts, my actions, and my words were always focused on one thing – keeping the gap between him and his peers from spreading further.  But, many times I treated the race like a sprint, when what it really is, is a marathon. 

Today, I try not to get too wrapped up in doing everything; instead, I’ve learned to temper the therapy with allowing him to just be a kid.  More importantly, I’ve learned to give myself permission to just be his mom.    Now I can spend more time enjoying the finer points of mothering; like reminding him to make his bed, take out the trash, and not gloat too much over beating me at Mario Kart.

Open Up and Say Ahh ha ha

Today, I had an appointment with the dentist.  So, the two hour window I would normally use to squeeze in as many errands and chores I can while Nat is in preschool, was spent in a reclined position having three, ancient fillings replaced.  Oh, the joys of growing older.  But, there’s always a silver lining, and in my case it has been replaced with a tooth-colored composite one.

It seems only fitting  I share some thoughts and experiences I’ve had with my kids and their teeth.

With Noah, brushing his teeth has always been a well-waged battlefield.  When he was two, I found the only way to brush his pearly whites was for me to become a human pretzel.  I’d sit behind him and wrap my legs around his body so I could pin both his arms and legs down and keep my hands free to brush his teeth.  It worked great...until he learned the art of head-butting. Ouch.  At three, I told him there were bugs in his mouth.  He opened his mouth wide and was all too willing to have me brush them away, but still gagged on the taste of bubblemint.  Thankfully, we were introduced to Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills. They are educated in dealing with kids with sensory issues.  Not only do they know how to make visits pleasant, they found a paste Noah loved.  Wait for it…chocolate ice cream flavored toothpaste. Blech.

When Noah was six and a half, he lost his first tooth.  He was so proud.  He walked around with it in a little plastic dish.  He talked to it saying, “I’m going to miss you tooth.” 

When I told him to be careful not to lose it so he could put it under his pillow, he responded, “No, I don’t want to…It’s lucky…It’s a lucky tooth!”

 

When he turned eight, I was still trying to convince him of the benefits of brushing.  I told him, “If you don’t brush your teeth you’ll lose them or they’ll have to drill holes in them.” 

His response, “I want gold teeth then I can be a pirate.”

When Natalie lost her first tooth a few months ago, she looked me in the eye and asked, “Is there really a tooth fairy or is it just you, Mom?” 

I responded like any good parent not wanting her five year old to lose her belief in all things magical – I skirted the issue then answered her question with a question, “Why do you ask?

Yesterday, Natalie had a visit with the dentist....
Natalie: "I love the dentist. I think I want to be one when I grow up."

Me: "That's great, Natalie! You'll have to go to school and study really hard,"  

Natalie: "Um...actually I don't think I want to be a dentist. I think I just want to be a big blob."





Natalie with the prize she chose for being a good patient.