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A truly rueful purpose
This afternoon I am taking the afternoon off from work, and I'm honestly dreading it. Kirstin has an appointment at 1 PM to have four of her baby teeth pulled. This was her orthodontist's idea, which will supposedly allow her adult teeth to come in more rapidly and more correctly, I guess. No one has been able to explain to me why this is really necessary; but they assure me that it is.So my mom, Forest and I have been conspiring to make this happen. We decided to keep Kirstin up really late last night; had a bonfire, ate all sorts of goodies, and at 11:45 PM informed her calmly and matter-of-factly about the upcoming procedure. Our hope was that she would probably stay up late worrying, but then sleep through most of the day tomorrow (since she can't eat for 12 hours beforehand). If we're lucky she'll even be extra-tired and all the more easy to sedate when we get there.
She didn't take the news very well; she cried, and looked utterly terrified, and repeated over and over that she 'didn't want to have any teeth pulled'. We explained that no one wants to have teeth pulled, but that she has to, and there's nothing to be done about it. Forest was wonderful, and she snuggled right up to him and listened to his stories and comforts. Every time we'd start to have her smiling, and looking like everything was okay, she would talk herself into being scared again. We tried the 'tooth fairy pays double on pulled teeth', the 'be brave little piglet', the classic 'we've all had our teeth pulled and lived to tell the tale', and of course 'you won't feel anything'. All of it worked for a minute, and then she brought herself back to misery. We finally had to leave her, still crying, at midnight.
As the parent, I have to put on a brave face, but I am really dreading this. I will likely have to hold her down until they can gas her. I hate doing things like that.
On a happier note, I got cast in The Dining Room, and I have to go to a meeting. More tomorrow!
