the following post is extremely one sided
Two teeth.That's all he needs pulled per his orthodontist
who is wonderful by the way -
because he sees the whole picture.
The first time I took Nick to see him
he said that we'd want to avoid doing two phases of braces
because he deduced that Nick was in speech therapy
and felt appliances would hinder his progress.
An orthodontist that's worried about speech therapy.
Love him.
So instead of a mouth full of braces he has to get 2 teeth pulled.
I set the appointment with our new dentist
and took him in today.
Nick was worried.
Nick didn't want to lay back in the chair.
The hygienist let me work my "desperate mother magic"
until the dentist popped his head in.
Nick wasn't ready.
I looked my son in the eyes and did what any good mother does,
I made promises.
By the time the dentist came back Nick was in position
and while still a bit concerned he was ready to go.
The dentist tapped the two teeth with the back of his mirror
and then called me out.
"I think it will be too traumatic for him. He's already so tense and I'm not sure he'll be able to lie still. You should consider sedation."
Traumatic?
TRAUMATIC?
This is what's traumatic: Begging your son for 30 minutes to comply. Promising him a lego set, a milkshake and unlimited computer time for the day until he agrees. And once he agrees his mind is made up. And then the dentist changes his mind. Your son starts crying and says that he wants it done. "I want to do it. I want to do it!" He stands in front of the building sobbing, "I want to do it! I want to do it!" Because that's autism. And autism isn't known for it's flexibility. Especially when it's made up it's mind to do something hard for the afore mentioned rewards.
I wish the dentist would have trusted me. I wish he would have believed me when I said Nick was ready and that he would be still. Because Nick would have been. Still as a stone. Because autism can be still when it wants to be. He's had teeth pulled elsewhere and did magnificently.
Instead Nick cried all the way home. Broken hearted alligator tears. He couldn't understand what had just happened. "I want to do it."
I can't expect the world to understand Nick
when I don't always understand him myself
but a mother knows her son.
He could have done it.
when I don't always understand him myself
but a mother knows her son.
He could have done it.
:(
2 comments:
You are a great mom. Nick is a fantastic kid. Brave and inspiring. I know he could have done it too:) Just tell him my girls each have a couple of teeth that need to be pulled and I can't even get them to think about the dentist without trembling with fear. Tell Nick I am proud of him and his courage for being "ready"! xoxo
so frustrating...it shoulda happened. And then you get the great car ride home and evening of 'angst'......and now another trip! So sorry
Post a Comment