Dentist appointment today for Howie.
Just the thought sends shivers through me. Past appointments have gone very well (at this dentist anyway…we won’t talk about our previous dentist who refused to let me in the room with him, even when he was screaming and crying…moving on…) but you just never know, right?
I usually take the kids separately but this time I had Lewis with me too as an observer.
There were a million ways for this to go bad.
After a failed attempt at x-rays (again), the hygienist asked Howie to lie down so she could clean his teeth.
This had never been a problem spot in the past but for some reason today Howie refused.
I went into full alert knowing that at any moment we could be completely done here, which would mean completely done with the dentist for a long time.
“Can you sit him up a bit? Howie, you need to lie down just a little longer so she can make your teeth sparkle. Want me to hold your hand?”
Howie sat up and looked at Lewis.
“I want Lewis to sit with me and hold my hand.”
And so…
He did.
“Hold my hand
Want you to hold my hand
Hold my hand
Ill take you to a place where you can be
Hold my hand
Anything you wanna be because
I wanna love you the best that, the best that I can.” – Hold My Hand by Hootie and The Blowfish
December 12, 2012 at 12:43 pm
I suppose what you need some times is a brother’s love. I’m glad it worked out so well.
December 12, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Love <3
December 12, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Oh, nothing better than brotherly love!
December 12, 2012 at 1:36 pm
I love this! How awesome that your kids know how to comfort each other! And I hear you on the part about being worried for the appointment. When we finally found a good dentist and my boys actually had a great appointment, I was so excited I wanted to hug the hygienists!
December 12, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Ahhh, so sweet!
December 12, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Love it!!!!!!
Dana
December 12, 2012 at 7:55 pm
That is the sweetest thing I’ve seen today! so cute!
December 12, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Your sweet boys just made my night!!!! Love, love and love some more!!
December 12, 2012 at 9:04 pm
This is just beautiful. Makes me so thankful for my nephews. I got the chills when I saw this. Thank you.
December 12, 2012 at 9:39 pm
So cute. I am continually amazed by the bond between brothers.
December 12, 2012 at 10:55 pm
My daughter had issues with the xrays- she is the older sister and had so much anxiety she lost it outside the dentist office. So we took home the xray plastic “sheets”- put a bit of cardboard inside to stiffin it up- and practiced when she was willing at home. With me doing it she was better…after having it sit in her mouth she relaxed and was better…and she quickly- to get it over with- accomplished it the next visit. i even took gloves and the mask so she had the full “sensory experience”. Her anxiety issues are very different from Howie’s but wanted to share how we got over that BIG hurdle
December 13, 2012 at 1:11 am
How awesome. It’s so interesting that I read this today because my boys just went to the dentist yesterday. My 5 year old has some issues with food, and must have some sort of oral aversion. He just started therapy. But he freaks out at the dentist. It took forever for them to do his x-rays and he won’t even let the dentist count his teeth. He needs a crown on a bad tooth, and we have to take him to the hospital so he can be sedated. I wish one of his brothers could just hold his hand.
December 13, 2012 at 9:49 am
Yay Lewis! and Yay Howie for being a great self-advocate!
Every time my son goes to the dentist for a cleaning or a filling, he first need to have every piece of equipment explained and each step of the procedure explained. The office also plays Caleb’s favorite local country station. Ahhh….serendipity.
Our dentist and his staff are fabulous and take the time to go slow and explain everything. They keep their voices calm and that helps my son relax. Best of all, they have never had to resort to restraining my son for any reason. Our dentist is a firm believer in making a trip to the dentist a positive experience. He even let’s my son pick a “reward” from the toy chest…even though he’s now 17.
The sad part is that our dentist is getting to the age where he may be retiring soon. He’s been our family dentist for 23 years. I hope his new dental practice partner will be as good as his is.
December 14, 2012 at 3:51 am
oh my goodness, I think I just passed out from the gorgeousness of this.
December 14, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Wonderful.