It was a typical Monday morning. My partner was at work, and I was lounging in my pajamas at 9 a.m., contemplating a pool trip with my 2-year-old. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a reminder: “Family Smile Dentistry is excited for your daughter’s 10:30 appointment today!”
Oh no! Even after multiple notifications via text, phone call, and even a postcard, I had completely forgotten about my child’s two-year dental checkup. I felt like I was in a scene from Home Alone, frantically preparing to leave as time ticked away. Instead of cheerful music, I found myself muttering some mild expletives in front of my impressionable toddler.
We had less than an hour to shower, dress, and get out the door. To keep my little one occupied, I handed her the iPad and grabbed a couple of Little Critter and Berenstain Bears books about visiting the dentist. I realized that while the clinic might not mind if I showed up in pajamas and messy hair, I still wanted to appear somewhat presentable, so I quickly washed my hair, applied some mascara, and even shaved my underarms—a feat I don’t often achieve for my partner.
In my rushing, I discovered that my child had no suitable clean clothes. The only options were a Christmas dress, a cowboy outfit, and a Lilly Pulitzer dress that I had practically fought another parent for at Target. I opted for the Pulitzer dress; my little lady deserved to look nice.
Just as I was about to leave, I had a moment of panic. I had forgotten the most critical task: brushing my daughter’s teeth! Faced with a dilemma—should I brush her teeth and risk being late, or arrive on time with a mouth full of remnants from a candy-filled diet? Ultimately, I decided to multitask. While driving to Family Smile Dentistry, I allowed her to suck toothpaste from a toothbrush. Take that, dilemma!
Despite my clever strategy, we still arrived late. According to Murphy’s Law, when you’re running behind, all sorts of obstacles appear: the garage door refuses to close, slow pedestrians cross your path, and you’re forced to honk at distracted drivers. Thankfully, the receptionist greeted us with a smile and informed us that the dentist was running late too. We were welcomed to the waiting room, which was a child’s paradise—filled with books, toys, and even a train table. However, as a parent, I couldn’t help but notice the potential hazards lurking in that paradise.
As I watched my child dive into the chaos, I noticed a mother storming out with her child and angrily confronting the dentist about the fluoride toothpaste. Meanwhile, her little one was pleading for a trip to McDonald’s.
Once we were called back, a cheerful dental assistant explained that she would need to take X-rays of my daughter’s mouth. My child was initially compliant but quickly became upset when she saw the size of the equipment. In a moment of desperation, I decided to channel my inner superhero, holding her mouth open as they took the X-rays. My child’s future therapist is likely going to get a hefty bonus after today.
Next, we moved on to the cleaning and examination. My child, now realizing the reality of the situation, protested sitting in the dentist’s chair. We settled on a position where her head rested on my knees and her legs draped over my sides, allowing me to hold her in place. Unfortunately, this led to another struggle, and in the midst of it, my toddler got so upset she vomited.
The assistant, trying to manage the chaos, showered my child with toys and goodie bags to distract her, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, the dentist arrived and assured me that my daughter’s teeth were in good shape. As my child kept repeating “Mickey Mouse,” I learned that there were cartoons on a screen above us, designed to help distract kids during procedures. I couldn’t believe we had gone through so much turmoil without anyone mentioning this simple solution!
As I prepared to leave, the receptionist reminded me that my daughter couldn’t eat or drink for 30 minutes post-cleaning. Of course, my little one caught this and immediately demanded food. As I escorted my clean-toothed, vomit-covered, and starving child out of the clinic, the receptionist cheerfully said, “See you in six months!”
It felt like I was trapped in Groundhog Day, as the cycle of chaos would undoubtedly repeat itself.
In summary, navigating a dental appointment with a toddler can be quite the adventure, filled with unexpected turns and challenges. It’s essential to be prepared and to keep your sense of humor intact, even when things go awry. For more insights on family planning and pregnancy options, consider exploring resources such as Intrauterine Insemination or check out Make A Mom’s Fertility Booster for Men for additional support.
Leave a Reply