Small Victories

On Monday, the dentist had a cancellation. My son has not had a successful dental visit in over five years. Five. I was so nervous to bring him in that I could feel the waves of anxiety rolling through my body on the drive.

The dental hygienist was an angel sent from heaven. She gave constant reassurance, explained every step of her process, and involved my son in the decision-making. She even - and this made me cry in relief - asked the dentist to skip the final exam so that my son could have a really positive first experience. Her kindness was a true gift.

Another gift - that evening, my children played together like they haven't in ages. They were raucous to the point of obnoxiousness. I was glad to gently scold them. Part of me thinks that my son was proud and relieved and celebrating in his own way.