Great Day at Great Beginnings!

Jones is wearing one of Jeremy's
old sweatshirts! I love it!

I am VERY pleased to report that Jones and Freddie Pressley are still members of the Cavity Free Club. I am JUST as pleased to inform you that, for the first time, since he was two years old, Jones Pressley did not have to be physically restrained on the exam table at the dentist's office.

Wonders never cease.

When the hygienist came to get the boys from the waiting room, she said, "I have a note here that we're going to try taking them back without you." They'd told me last time that kids often do a LOT better without their mamas around. I let her take them, though everything in me thought, "They're too young for this!" as I watched them walk away.

I stood just outside the closed door of the exam room, listening for an explosion of tears, waiting to be asked in. Neither ever came. All I got instead were thumbs up from every hygienist who left the room. One at a time, the hygienists walked the boys to get their X-rays. They looked so big going down that hall, holding someone else's hand. My heart broke a teeny bit - but it also thrilled to see them capable of calm without me around.

When the cleanings and X-rays were done, I DID go into the exam room. I talked to Dr. Bill as he looked at Freddie's hypoplasia (it's still holding steady, so there are no problems there! YAY!), and when it was Jones's turn, the hygienist cleverly ushered me out "to pay for Freddie's cleaning," so it was just Jones, an assistant, and Dr. Bill. A few minutes later, Dr. Bill popped out and shook my hand - "They look great, Mom," he said.

He could've also said, "He did GREAT, Mom," because Jones DID.

I can't tell you how very, very thankful I am for this sign of maturity. Next time, I'm sending them in an Uber to their appointment.

That was Tuesday. Today, the boys and I were having lunch at "the Pizza Shop" (Waynesville Pizza Company) when I noticed Freddie playing with his napkin. I thought he was making a beard, so I said, "You look like Santa Claus!" He immediately - good-naturedly - corrected me: "I look like Dr. Bill" (which sounds like "Dr. Bail" when my boys say it).

Maybe he'll be a dentist for Halloween.