Rocking the flu shot

I stole the title of this entry from my friend, who wrote about the same issue for the Mom blog at the Pioneer Press. It really aptly describes how Rachel handled the 3rd flu shot of her young life.

I told her a couple of times that we were going to go in for flu shots, that Mommy was going to get a shot too, and that we needed to do so so we wouldn't get sick. Once or twice she said, "I don't wanna," and "I don't wanna go to the doctor!" So I was sort of dreading the trip, since last year she screamed and cried and I had to take her in my lap and cuddle her for about a half-hour or so.

But today, she acted as if the shot was a special cool thing just for her. As we pulled into the clinic she said, "Flu shots!" pointing to the sign that said Flu Shots. My heart stopped for a minute because I thought that meant she could READ! Then she followed up with, "Flu shot for ME!"

Then we went to the basement of Kaiser Permanente and I briefly considered signing her up for the flu mist in her nose, but then the nurse said it's not advised until kids are 3 and can actually sniff it up their nostrils (yucky, as Rachel would say).

So I walked in, dreading the shots for Rachel and myself. They gave one to me first and it didn't hurt AT ALL -- just a tiny sting. Then the woman quickly pulled aside the neck of Rachel's shirt, swabbed her and stuck the needle in -- and Rachel barely cried! She hardly whimpered! She was a total champ! She was so awesome that when the nurse gave her a lollipop she didn't even open it because she DIDN'T NEED IT! ATTA GIRL!

I had a bag of cookies and graham crackers and I felt obligated to offer her a cookie even though she clearly was not experiencing any trauma. And we followed up with the trip to the farmer's market, where I bought the last strawberries of the season, probably, and some other good things that I would never normally trek there for -- it is too expensive on our very limited budget -- but I told Rachel we would go to the market after the nastiness of the flu shots and I felt obligated to honor my promise. Which, in the end, I probably didn't need to do.

But the point is: We are immunized for this season -- no need to worry about getting the flu (cross fingers here) -- and Rachel won't have to deal with another round of shots until she's 4 (flu shots next winter again, but by then Drew will be back and he can take her if need be).

I am very relieved, even if the event was rather anticlimatic. I told that to Rachel, but she didn't respond.

More random Rachel:
Once in a while I'll say in mock exasperation, "Rachel, what am I going to DO with you?"
The answer is always the same: "Tickle me!"

***

Today as I was driving home from the library I said, "Guess who's going down for a nap as soon as we get home?"
"Me!" Rachel said, so brightly that I cracked up.