It was a typical Monday morning. My partner was off to work, and there I was, lounging in my pajamas at 9 a.m., planning a trip to the pool with my 2-year-old, when my phone buzzed.
“Sunny Smiles Dentistry is excited for your daughter’s 10:30 appointment today!”
Oh no! Despite receiving three reminders via text, a phone call, and even a postcard, I had completely overlooked the fact that today marked my little one’s two-year dental checkup.
Suddenly, I felt like I was in a scene from a chaotic family movie, frantically racing against the clock. Instead of joyful background music, I found myself muttering mild curses in front of my impressionable child. We had less than an hour to shower, get dressed, and head out. I quickly turned on the iPad for my toddler while grabbing a couple of Little Critter and Berenstain Bears books about the dentist to tuck into my bag.
Although the clinic probably wouldn’t mind my disheveled appearance, I felt the urge to at least look presentable. A quick hair wash, a swipe of mascara, and a swift underarm shave later, I was ready to go. This effort was more than I typically put in for my spouse, but I guess I don’t schedule special appointments for him every six months.
Then, I realized my daughter had no clean clothes suitable for the occasion. The only options that weren’t stained with various substances were a Christmas dress, a cowboy outfit, and a Lilly Pulitzer dress from Target that I might have fought for. Lilly it was!
Just as I was about to leave, I realized I had forgotten the most critical task—brushing my daughter’s teeth! Now I faced a dilemma: should I take the time to brush her teeth and risk being late, or arrive on time with a mouthful of sugary remnants? Ultimately, I decided I could do both. So, I let her chew on a toothbrush with toothpaste while we made our way to Sunny Smiles Dentistry.
As expected, we ended up running late. Murphy’s Law was in full effect: the garage door refused to shut, an elderly lady leisurely crossed the street, and I had to honk at a couple of distracted drivers. Fortunately, the receptionist greeted us with, “No worries! The dentist is running a bit behind. Please have a seat in the waiting area, and we’ll call you shortly.”
My little whirlwind dashed into the waiting room, clearly thrilled by all the toys and books. To me, it looked chaotic—a sea of torn books, two screens showing shows I had no interest in, and a giant stuffed lion that probably harbored more germs than I cared to think about.
While my toddler claimed her territory, I noticed a mother storming out of the dentist’s office, berating the staff about fluoride toothpaste. Her child, desperately wanting to go to McDonald’s, tugged at her shirt. The scene was a mix of chaos and concern.
Soon, my daughter’s name was called. A friendly dental assistant explained that she needed to take X-rays. My daughter seemed eager until she saw the large square film used for the X-ray. It slipped out of her mouth, and she burst into tears. The assistant tried her best to calm her, but my little one was having none of it.
Realizing I had to step in, I took on the role of the “supportive parent,” holding her mouth open while they quickly snapped the X-rays. After what felt like an eternity, we moved on to the next room for the cleaning.
At this point, my daughter was fully aware of the ordeal we had entered. She refused to sit in the dentist’s chair, so we settled on a position with her head on my knees. Unfortunately, she was still squirming, which led to an unfortunate incident where she vomited everywhere. The assistant apologized profusely, while I tried my best to maintain my composure amidst my child’s wailing. Toys and goodie bags were offered, but nothing seemed to appease her.
Finally, the dentist came in and reassured me that all was well with my daughter’s teeth. Meanwhile, my child kept repeating “Mickey Mouse,” pointing up at a television I hadn’t noticed. The assistant explained that cartoons were there to distract kids during the appointment. I shot her a look that could freeze lava.
“Are you telling me we just went through all of this, and you had a distraction right above us?”
After expressing my disbelief, I thanked the dentist and hurriedly made our exit.
As I was discussing insurance with the receptionist, the dentist tapped my shoulder. “Just a quick note—your daughter can’t eat or drink for 30 minutes after her cleaning.” Naturally, my child, who doesn’t grasp how to dress herself, immediately demanded food.
As I led my clean-toothed, vomit-splattered, starving toddler out, the receptionist cheerfully said, “See you in six months!”
I couldn’t help but think I wasn’t in a family movie; I was in a never-ending loop of chaos.
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Summary
A chaotic trip to the dentist with my toddler led to unexpected challenges, from forgetting to brush her teeth to dealing with the aftermath of her discomfort. Despite the hurdles, we survived the appointment and learned valuable lessons along the way.