smile!!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I'm ashamed to say, I took my kids to their very first dentist appointment. Honestly, I think my own irrational fear of the dentist kept me from taking my boys when they were younger. I know it doesn't make sense but that's the only excuse I have and I'm going to use it! Ha! Better late then never, though, and so at ages 8 and 6 my boys went to the dentist for the first time. They were kind of nervous to go but I did my best to count down the days with them and remind them of the positive parts of going to the dentist. I also told them, in detail, what the dentist would do so they wouldn't be too scared. I have to admit, though, that I felt a bit like I was lying to them in the days leading up to their appointment and even as we sat in the waiting room waiting for their names to be called because I'm terrified of the dentist but kept having to say things like "The dentist isn't scary..." and "This is going to be fun!" even though my insides were doing somersaults! Ha!

The day of the boys' appointments had finally arrived and right after school we went to the dentist office. Ash volunteered to go first! What a brave big brother! Ash was all smiles and didn't seem very nervous at all. He DID ask the nurse A LOT of questions and wanted to know each and every thing she was going to do and asked what every single instrument was but he did GREAT!! He even let the nurse do x-rays! When Ash was finally done getting his teeth cleaned he said "my teeth feel weird"...ha! I guess we should've done this sooner...!!!

While we were on our drive to the dentist office, Maddox was talking a really big game. He was even trying to convince Ash to let him go first because in the words of Maddox "I'm the tough one!" But then as Ashtyn was getting his teeth cleaned Maddox broke down. He was sitting in the corner of the room with me and about halfway through Ash's appointment Maddox started cuddling with me, he began to cry (hard!) and began saying he was scared and didn't want to have his turn. Poor baby. I'm not sure where is confidence had gone but it was most definitely GONE! Once Ash was finished, though, Maddox got into the dental chair (all be it with a pouty face and splotchy eyes from crying so hard...) and did his best to act tough...

Maddox's nerves eventually calmed down and he opened wide for the nurse and let her do his teeth cleaning. He put on his brave face and powered through!

After their teeth were sparkling white the boys were allowed to pick out a toy from the dentist's toy closet and each received a new toothbrush. And the best part of the day came when I heard that neither of the boys had any cavities!!!! Woohoo!!!!