I let my kids see how scared I was to go to the dentist!
My son (6) has always had MAJOR anxiety about doctors.
Just ASK him about a doctor or the flu shot and he will dissolve in front of you.
I’ve held him down for doctors to simply look in his ears.
He has put on Oscar-worthy performances walking through the waiting room of the pediatrician after getting shots or blood drawn.
This Monday I had a tooth break (ouch). I had to make an emergency appointment to get it taken care of.
The appointment ended up being on Wednesday….so I had 48 hours to think about how much I didn’t want to go!
On Tuesday night as my kids were getting ready for bed, I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety and started crying in the kitchen.
My son walked up and asked me what was the matter, and I explained to him that my mouth hurt and that I was scared.
The look on his face was shock and maybe a little understanding. He said, “you get scared of doctors too!?”
Then we had a great conversation where I got to share with him that yes even I get scared! And no even mommy’s and daddy’s don’t like going to the doctors most of the time!
But it is necessary to keep us healthy and it is important.
Wednesday morning as I dropped him off at school he prayed for me (among others) and told me everything was going to be ok!
Not only was it what I needed but I think it was a little what he needed too.
So many times we downplay our kid’s fears.
I KNEW going to the dentist was what I needed to do, I knew it would be ok, and that I really didn’t have anything to be afraid of….but still I was scared.
So the next time he tells me he is scared, my response won’t be “why? you have nothing to be afraid of!”
My response now will be “yes, I understand that ______ can be scary”
I will hold him, I will let him cry (probably cry with him TBH), I will remind him of the time I was scared to go to the dentist and how much he helped me. And I will ask him if I can pray for him too!
