This afternoon right after school, Jake had to get the first of two flu shots he'll have this year. He's never had one in the past, so apparently kids have to have two the first year they get them. He's not in a high-risk category for the flu, but since we'll have a newborn during flu season, the whole family has to get one (note to Ike: the whole family).
I wasn't sure how to approach telling him about the shot. I mentioned it about a week ago, but didn't want to talk about it again over the weekend or this morning because I didn't want him to worry throughout the school day. So...I sprang it on him as soon as he got in the car this afternoon. "Guess what, Jakey? We're going straight to the doctor for a shot! Woohoo!"
Ok, I wasn't that callous (or excited) about it. I tried to break it to him gently, even bringing him a Yoohoo to drink in the car on the way there. As if this would help. My son has this strong fear of shots. It's almost weird, except that I have the same fear (and in a grown woman who has birthed one baby and will birth another in a couple of months, it's a much more ridiculous fear).
He started crying immediately when I told him where we were going. He calmed down a little when I explained that the shot will help him avoid the flu (so it better work!!). He knows the flu means, "You throw up and I don't want to throw up because it's yucky." However, he cried again when we got to the parking lot, again when they called his name to get his shot, and of course, he screamed like a banshee when he actually got the shot. The nurse tried to appease him after the fact with a sticker, which yes, he took, but no, it did not make him feel better. As he said to her while we walked to the sticker selection, "I can't walk very fast or very well because of the shot you gave me in the leg."
Better you than me, lady. But here's hoping the same nice nurse doesn't get stuck with the job of administering shot #2 in November...
I wasn't sure how to approach telling him about the shot. I mentioned it about a week ago, but didn't want to talk about it again over the weekend or this morning because I didn't want him to worry throughout the school day. So...I sprang it on him as soon as he got in the car this afternoon. "Guess what, Jakey? We're going straight to the doctor for a shot! Woohoo!"
Ok, I wasn't that callous (or excited) about it. I tried to break it to him gently, even bringing him a Yoohoo to drink in the car on the way there. As if this would help. My son has this strong fear of shots. It's almost weird, except that I have the same fear (and in a grown woman who has birthed one baby and will birth another in a couple of months, it's a much more ridiculous fear).
He started crying immediately when I told him where we were going. He calmed down a little when I explained that the shot will help him avoid the flu (so it better work!!). He knows the flu means, "You throw up and I don't want to throw up because it's yucky." However, he cried again when we got to the parking lot, again when they called his name to get his shot, and of course, he screamed like a banshee when he actually got the shot. The nurse tried to appease him after the fact with a sticker, which yes, he took, but no, it did not make him feel better. As he said to her while we walked to the sticker selection, "I can't walk very fast or very well because of the shot you gave me in the leg."
Better you than me, lady. But here's hoping the same nice nurse doesn't get stuck with the job of administering shot #2 in November...
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home