First Visit to the Dentist!

This morning, after many prayers for "courage like a big, bold lion" for our little boy, I took the kids to their first dental appointments. The pediatric dentist we went to came highly recommended by a dear friend I trust, so even though the office a little bit of a drive from our house, N and I felt like it would be worth it to take the kids there a couple times a year. We both enjoy our trips to the dentist for the most part. N used to tease me whenever I went to our dentist in NY, because it would take me so long. Not because I had any issues with my teeth, but because I would get to chatting with the awesome hygienist there while she was cleaning my teeth and an hour would easily go by! I LOVED that dental office; it's actually one of the things I was most sad to leave behind when we moved.

Anyway, we want visits to the dentist to be a positive experience for our kids, too.

I have to insert here that I feel a little shortchanged in my childhood medical experiences. I mean, we never got to go to special doctors. Heck, I don't even know if we had regular check ups other than when we made our summer trips every few years back to Korea! And I mean, check out this mural in the kids' examination room! And this isn't even including the giant Lightning McQueen in the corner!

Source

All the "prep" part of the visit was great. The forms even included a little section asking about the kids' favorite foods, animals, colors, etc. and the receptionist inquired about our bearded dragon based on that form. Both kids played happily in the children's waiting room until Dr. Sarah was ready to see us.

Little Lady went first and did surprisingly well lying still while the dentist checked her two little bitty teeth and her gums. She's quite the wiggler now and isn't one to stay put for long periods of time, so I was glad that she complied so well. Big brother sat next to us, and I could sense that he was quite concerned, both for his baby sister [remember how he yelled at the nurses for "hurting my baby sister" when he came with us for one of her well-baby visits?] and for himself.

When it came to be his turn, he just burst out crying.

Dr. Sarah was great and finally, she convinced him to show her how he brushed his teeth at home, and in the process, she was able to get a decent look at all his teeth. She didn't talk down to him and I could tell that he was warming up to her. And I was pleasantly surprised to see that the toothbrush they had put in his bag was blue, his favorite color (I'm assuming that was intentional).

All in all, for a first visit to the dentist, I would say this was fairly successful!

We stopped to pick up a few groceries on the way home, and when we pulled into our driveway, B spotted our neighbor, Mr. David. He requested to go for a visit, so he ran next door while I put Little Lady down for her nap, brought in the groceries, and started dinner in the crock pot. I could hear him chattering away through the open kitchen window, and it made me thankful yet again for great neighbors.

He came running in soon enough, and after we all had lunch, I took the kids out to the backyard to play. The baby was content to be pushed in the swing while B and I played "hockey" with his plastic golf clubs, and once she was done, I let her explore in the grass while B "fast-roped" (if you haven't seen "Arthur Christmas," you should) up and down the little playhouse with a bit of rope I let him have. Little Lady crawled around, pulling up handfuls of grass and leaves, having the time of her life, and once we came back inside and I put B down for his nap, she stood at the back patio doors, just staring out into the great outdoors.

I'd better be careful, or she's going to be asking to backpack the Appalachian Trail solo. Just kidding.

Sort of.