From The Past: November 26, 2007

Yesterday we took Ashley to the walk-in clinic because her throat was sore and I wanted to make sure she didn’t have strep throat. After paying our $20 co pay, waiting two and a half hours, and Ashley getting her throat swabbed; we were told the strep test was negative and to give her some Tylenol. Since she will see an ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat) on Wednesday, they wanted her to wait until that appointment to see what the specialist says.

This morning, Ashley had an orthodontist appointment. It was just a routine check. They put a new type of chain on her two front teeth and changed her colors. She was actually on time for school and didn’t miss one minute. This is a plus since I will have to take her out early on Wednesday.

** I guess Ashley will be dealing with that sore throat longer than we thought. When I got home this afternoon, the doctor’s office had called and said she wouldn’t be seen until the second week in December because they had overbooked this particular doctor. I guess I need to keep lots of Tylenol on hand until then!

Ahh, the doctor’s appointments; you take them for years and then suddenly, they are gone, on their own, and you have only yourself to get to the doctor every once in a while. I remember taking Andrew to the orthodontist constantly and then all of a sudden, it all ended.

If you have kids, let me tell you, the appointments can be a pain, but there is an end and you may not be as happy as you think when it does end. You may just wish the two of you were back in the car, talking and cutting up on the way to and from those appointments. You may just wish you had a reason to visit that old middle school again. You may just miss it all and wish you had that child back again to hold. Sometimes you may get so sad about not having to do these things that you cry. It may happen sometimes. You might just be surprised.

December 17, 2000

You may realize that all the science projects, open houses, concerts, having to get costumes for this or that, waiting in the pick-up line at the end of the day, really wasn’t that bad after all. You may wonder where the time went. You may wonder where that little boy went and how did he grow up so quickly especially throughout the high school years. They literally fly by and then you are left alone.

Be good to your kids. Say kind things and make them want to be with you. Make them want to visit and write. Try your best to have as few regrets as possible. Listen to their stories. Be with them, hold hands more, give more kisses.