So Jackson’s dental appointment went a little something like this:
“Jackson, hop up in the magic chair and let’s take a ride!”
<insert screaming, crying, and wiggling out of it here>
“Okay, well, good job! Pick out a super fun toothbrush and we’ll see you next year!”
No cleaning, no poking around, nothing. As soon as the chair began to recline, Jack was done, and frankly, so was I. No need to traumatize him, me or any other patient. No offense to dentists, those who work in dentistry, or anyone who cares deeply about oral health, but going to the dentist is about as much fun as stepping on a rusty nail barefooted. I’ll pass. (Of course, I have a cavity. No check-up is complete without the scheduling of a filling afterward.)
The dental hygienist suggested we put off an official cleaning until next year and hope that Jackson will at least make it through a formal examination. Maybe we’ll get to actually cleaning his teeth by high school. Really, why rush it?
As the day went on, work was fine, as I’m nearly 18 months into my job and I still dearly love it. On the flip side, my responsibilities as a mother seemed beyond overwhelming. It seems that I simply forgot to enroll Jackson in another year of early intervention classes. (How embarrassing that his teacher called to remind me.) I haven’t purchased any school supplies yet and for some reason Jeremy’s flag football evaluation is on Friday at 10 a.m. Who, other than stay-at-home moms, are available at 10 a.m. on a Friday morning? Combine that with other things I need not list here, it seems that today has been more of a struggle to keep things moving forward at home, when until recently that area has always seemed somewhat under control.
I am better now that I’ve laid out a plan and organized it all in my head (and eaten an entire avocado by itself), but earlier today, had you stumbled upon me at just the right moment, I would’ve cried on your lap and lamented about my failures as a mother. Even working part time and having the blessed freedom of setting my own schedule, there are still days that I get caught up in the working woman’s web, where someone or something gets sacrificed in the untangling.
If there is any question about who’s in charge here, may this picture set the record straight. He observes everything from above and casts down judgment accordingly.
