When good dentist visits go bad or why I think Tylenol should make a Mother's Guilt formula

What a day. If anyone is actually reading my ramblings, you know Jack had to go to the dentist today. Jack has had an extra tooth surgically removed, two teeth pulled and "acidic" spit which creates the perfect environment for "cavity bugs." Needless to say Jack HATES the dentist.

I was dreading Jack's appointment as much as he would, had he known about it. I learned to not give him advance notice. If I do he becomes fixated and for Jack, that means a constant barrage of questions about general dentistry, what they are going to do to him and the death rates of pediatric dentistry. So he grilled me for the hour between waking up and actually seeing the dentist.

After our last experience at the dentist (two teeth pulled and a root canal) I convinced him that today was going to be piece of cake. Maybe it was even the mention of something sweet in his presence, but when they went into to do the two fillings, they found another one under the gum line and this one went to the root. Great. Now I'm a liar and a guilt-ridden mother thinking I should make him brush his teeth three, maybe four times a day.

He survived the fillings. He survived the fitting for some new mouth appliance to keep his top front teeth from sitting behind the lower ones. He even survived the extra shots. It was when they were cleaning up and pulled out the mouth thingy (I always think condom) and snagged and pulled out his loose tooth which went flying and was immediately lost to the tooth gods (who also apparently oversee single-sock-world.) That was just enough to put him over the edge. Writing the $600 check (my portion AFTER the insurance pays) put me over the edge.

We drove home, stopped by 7-11 to pick up Slurpees (the wonder-drink that cures all.) We loaded up on Tylenol (him for the teeth, me for the headache - they don't make a Tylenol Guilt formula yet.) And we napped. It was wonderful. He sloooooowly drifted of to sleep (maybe Tylenol should consider a Children's PM formula?) And we slept. For a couple of hours. Something I never allow myself to do or get around to doing.

So I'm sorry I don't have a project to share with you. Today, my project was being a mom. And I think it turned out pretty good.

Special note: my son is provided a toothbrush and supervised in its use twice daily. I do not or did not let him sleep with a bottle at night (dad is a different story.) Just wanted to note that...I'd hate to lose that mother-of-the-year award.

Jackson, most likely getting a cavity as we speak.