Innocence Lost
As a new parent, you worry constantly about the safety and well-being of your newest family member. The local and national news can be terrifying. If it’s not someone snatching a child in broad daylight, it’s some lunatic run amok on a college campus.
You try to keep them as safe as possible for as long as possible.
But, it’s a dangerous world and apparently that danger is as close as the pediatrician’s office.
Today was The Squeaker’s two month check up and the good news is she got a clean bill of health. She’s nine and a half pounds, 22” long, and her head is 15” around. The Squeaker is in the lower half of the percentile group, but she is a girl and she does come from short stock.
Now the bad news.
She got her first series of shots.
Four in total, two in each leg. And she screamed. She screamed like they were tearing the flesh from her bones. Once she got home, she cried and sobbed and moaned like a child possessed. And my heart still aches (and I wasn't even there!).
When I got home five hours later, she was still crying off and on. P.Pie has been dosing her with baby Tylenol in regular, prescribed intervals. But she’s still angry and uncomfortable. And hurt.
I’m afraid that this trip to the doctor’s may have sullied her perfect disposition. I fear this round of shots (as well as future rounds) will permanently jade her. Turn her from sweet perfection to bitter disillusionment. Kinda like her old man.
Of course, I prefer the term curmudgeon, thank you very much. And I was never even close to sweet perfection.
You try to keep them as safe as possible for as long as possible.
But, it’s a dangerous world and apparently that danger is as close as the pediatrician’s office.
Today was The Squeaker’s two month check up and the good news is she got a clean bill of health. She’s nine and a half pounds, 22” long, and her head is 15” around. The Squeaker is in the lower half of the percentile group, but she is a girl and she does come from short stock.
Now the bad news.
She got her first series of shots.
Four in total, two in each leg. And she screamed. She screamed like they were tearing the flesh from her bones. Once she got home, she cried and sobbed and moaned like a child possessed. And my heart still aches (and I wasn't even there!).
When I got home five hours later, she was still crying off and on. P.Pie has been dosing her with baby Tylenol in regular, prescribed intervals. But she’s still angry and uncomfortable. And hurt.
I’m afraid that this trip to the doctor’s may have sullied her perfect disposition. I fear this round of shots (as well as future rounds) will permanently jade her. Turn her from sweet perfection to bitter disillusionment. Kinda like her old man.
Of course, I prefer the term curmudgeon, thank you very much. And I was never even close to sweet perfection.
posted by Rob Barron at 8:10 PM
3 Comments:
I'm sorry for you and P.Pie and your perfect little Squeaker =(
I decided to delay vaxing for that exact reason. She'll be okay, I don't think a few shots can take her super cute sweetness =)
I remember when Gage got his first shots.
He screamed...and then it was over. After that, he would only scream & cry when you moved his legs (which, actually happened a lot b/c he had to be carried everywhere...)
Once we got him safely in his swing...he was much happier.
Shot days suck.
And sorry to tell ya this: this is the first of many.
:(
There is nothing--I repeat, nothing--worse than taking your kid for shots. Damn heartbreaking.
That's why I make my wife do it.
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