The Squeaky Wheel

I try not to be negative on my blog, but then I also strive to be real. If years down the road my kids happen to be reading my blog {will there even be blogs then?}, I don't want them to feel bad about what I write.

As I mulled this over in my head I realized that if/when my kids would read what I am about to write, I don't think this would matter to them.

Yesterday was one of those days. It started off fine. The boys had a dentist appointment and I thought to schedule it a little later in the morning so we didn't have to rush out of the house.

{side note - setting up appointments first thing in the morning are great! ONLY for things the kids are not upset about. Try not doing this for shots, dentist, etc.}

I have not taken the boys to the dentist since Summer of 2009 in Arkansas. It was a shared decision that we hold off until they were older because they were pretty traumatized at 3 years of age.

As soon as I mentioned the dentist, Quinton started his whining. Due to his newfound hate for anything strong tasting, minty, or strong smelling - he already started to whine about how bad it was going to taste.

You can't reason with a 4 year old. I still have not learned this, probably because I am stubborn. I can talk things through with him until I am blue in the face but if he doesn't want to do it, he doesn't want to do it.

{side note - I do not let this dictate our world and what we do. Just some things end up to be more difficult.}

We got to the dentist while Quinton started in again about the taste. We walked in, signed in, saw the fish tank, read books... then we were called to back.

We stepped in and first thing she said was "Quinton, can I do your picture first?" He dropped to his knees, started saying how bad the taste would be, then stopped. He stood up "just a picture?" he asked.

Yes, it was going to be one of those visits.

Quinton is my dramatic child. He loves hard. He dislikes hard {we don't use the "h_t_" word in our house}. He can out stubborn most anyone. I feel like my head hits a brick wall many days while trying to point his stubbornness in the correct direction.

I love my Quinton. I actually LOVE that he is not easily changed, that he doesn't care with others think about him when he feels a certain way.

Those two last paragraphs contradict each other, I know.

I know we have a lot of training ahead of us, but I am looking forward to see what God's has planned for Quinton. His determination pointed in the correct direction will be unstoppable!

Back to the dentist....

The other two went side by side first. They did AWESOME. Didn't cry, complain, or bite. Put the headphones on and watched the tv above their stations. Cleanings, check up, x-rays, fluoride, etc.

Quinton went last. Whined the entire time through his brother's check ups. Started screaming when she stuck her gloved finger in his mouth because "it tastes bad". Fast forward through 20 minutes of trying to talk him through a 2 minute cleaning process. Tears, spitting, water that "didn't taste right", no x-rays. The entire time trying to check out he was crying and trying to wipe the fluoride out of his mouth with his shirt.

I was frustrated, embarrassed, upset. It's not like I cater to his whims, or don't let him do things he doesn't want to do. {I can't imagine if he was an only child! He has had to learn a lot being a brother.} He was given a few words from me in the bathroom and in the car afterwards.

It took me until after lunch and our drive home to realize something.

Then I felt even more frustrated with the situation and my parenting.

I turned to Easton & Dalton. I told them how proud I was of them. They did fantastic. They never complained. I am proud of their goodie bags. They did awesome with their x-rays. I tell them how thankful I am for their attitudes.

The Squeaky Wheel. Ugh.

*palm to head*