Unnatural Tasks of Motherhood

One of the most innate purposes of motherhood is that of being a "mother hen." Mother's try to protect their children from harm and hurt above nearly all other tasks. One of my most dreaded tasks as Mom is taking my children for thier shots. If they weren't so beneficial, (agree this could be argued and believe me, I do argue it sometimes), I wouldn't take them at all. I guess the chances of my kid getting diptheria, lock jaw, rubella, measels, mumps, hepatitus, meningitis, polio, pertussis, or anything else bears enough weight that putting my child at mild risk and moderate discomfort allows me to fight my mother hen instinct just enough to show up at the doctor to submit my child to be pricked, poked, and prodded. OR, I would feel like too much of a hypocrite to advocate everyone else continue to get the vaccines so that the risk for the diseases remains small and then not take my own child. You know, make everyone else go, so we don't have to!

This brings me to this story: When it was Quincy's appointment time for shots recently, I was going through the usual anxiety that I always have-especially because he was mildly sick and it is often recommended that children not receive their shots if too ill. The pediatrician checked him out and gave him the all clear, so I got myself geared up for resisting getting teary eyed because my child was going to scream out his brains. It also occured to me that nurses must have a hearts that have protective armor because I have never seen a nurse become emotionally bent out of shape by making one baby after another scream! I always reason that they just focus on the greater good. As Quincy was sprawled out on the table, our nurse came in carrying the four different shots that he was going to be administerd that day. Everything was following standard procedure. Quicny was babbling and slightly nervous. I know he could sense something was "off." The nurse prepared for the first stick and told me she would go as quickly as possible. She began to give Quincy his first shot and his eyes got very wide and instead of screaming, he spoke. He said the sweetest, most adorable, "Owwwieeeee" you have ever heard! This of course was followed with the typical crying. The nurse was so shocked that he spoke such a pertinent word at such a small size that she was completely flustered. She had trouble delivering the shots quickly, but mananged to stumble through the rest. She apoplogized for not being able to go quickly as she had tears streaming down HER face. She excused herself from the room to pull it together while muttering that that was the most precious thing she had ever seen. It actually was a refreshing change. It made me smile and feel relief from the stress that I had, to see someone else flustered over the situation. We have a good laugh over it still.

Thanks to all the nurses out there, my mother in law included, who never forget to see us as people. :-)