We just came from Griffin's 8 month well-baby. I must say I love my pediatrician..not so crazy about the "old school" nurses that work in the office. Why is it that the nurses ask me the same questions every two months? No, I did not buy a gun or start smoking since the last time I was here..2 months ago. And still no pets..although it crossed my mind at one point. The pet...not the gun or smoking.The nurse that saw us today really ticked me off. At one point I just started lying and told her that yes, he was waving bye-bye and saying momma and dadda, even though he's not. No, he's not sitting up by himself...could you if you had all those rolls to deal with? No, he's not eating "real" food yet..he's pretty content nursing and it doesn't look like he's malnourished does it? Then she showed me his growth chart comparing him to all the other 8 month old babies in the world. Talk about stress. So, his weight obviously is way up there..almost off the charts, but then the nurse gives me a disapproving look when showing me his height. "Looks like he's slowed down a bit there" she says. Well, maybe you can prescribe him something to speed up his growth. Sheesh.
Believe me, I take all of this with a grain of salt...he's #4. But, I left there thinking of young new moms with their first babies having to deal with these questions. Do they leave the office feeling like their babies aren't performing like the other babies in the world? Why are we constantly comparing our children, ourselves, our husbands, our houses, our blogs..to everyone elses? Shouldn't we just appreciate our differences rather than feel inadequate for not being like everyone else? I understand tring to teach my 15, 11 and even my 7 yr old these lessons....but my 8month old!?
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss
*Since the main reason I started this blog was to record my days at home with my kids, I thought I'd share what's going on in their lives on "Babybook Fridays"....(I have actual babybooks but nothing is written in them)
I have to laugh...because I "lie" too! Except to the lovely physician's assistant, who starts to go through her required checklist while I blank stare at her, and then she just says, "I don't really need to do this with YOU do I?" She is awesome.
ReplyDeleteMy first son was HUGE-MUNGOUS when he was a baby. We were sure he was the next famous linebacker. How hilarious now, when he is the smallest kid in his entire high school. But healthy for sure!
That picture is DARLING! I love his rolls!
cherish those rolls!!! he looks picture perfect healthy to me!!! but i'm not a registered nurse...just a momma! :) love the dr. seuss quote....just put it up on our kitchen chalk board! have a wonderful Friday!
ReplyDeleteI SO remember feeling discouraged and scared as a new mom with doctor visits like this! I'm just grateful I had girlfriends to call who had experience to tell me it was all okay. Great post Pam, and baby rolls are the best!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered what I was like as a new mom, since Heidi was a teeny preemie, and all I knew was what nurses and doctors would tell me. Now, with my seventh, they rarely say anything, just hand me the printout of the chart.
ReplyDeleteI can't blame you for wanting to keep him nursing and your baby just a little longer . . .
Looks like your milk is quite adequate!
Gotta love those rolls! Yeah, thankfully I took it with a grain of salt too. When my one and only daughter was about 4 months old, a nurse told me to put her on a diet because she was too big (no comparisons to birth weight, height, etc, just the fact she was a big, cuddly, and VERY healthy baby)!
ReplyDeleteLove the Dr Seuss quote!
Picture perfect Griff...ignore Nurse Ratchett, fo sho! Love the idea that your blog shall be your baby book, too. My poor sons. Too little, too late. Dr. Seuss rocks! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post Pam!! It's so true....comparisons to everyone and everything...it gets so old and wears down on our joy. My cousin Courtney uses that quote on her FB and I love it. Some Dr.'s had me worried about Andrew being a little pudge too. I just nodded and said yeah...okay...sure, what-EVER! Now at 14 he's a bean pole that can't keep his pants up. I just want to sweetly pinch Griff's little roly poly arms...what a doll baby! Just scrumptious! XOXO
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! I just want to eat him up. He is just perfect the way he is. I love, love a chunky baby..says healthy to me. Ethan was built just like that, and now he is very thin. Just so you know, those charts were done on formula fed babies (probably in the 1950s). Mia didn't walk until 18 months because she was so disproportionate. I have the same thing in the office my kids go to, pretty forward thinking doctor and backward nurses. Ugh...makes me want to go back to work.
ReplyDeleteYOU know what is best for Griff...and I think by the looks of him...he is thriving just fine! I TRULY could eat him up...those rolls! I too fall into the "comparison trap" and Kelly is right it steals your Joy...so let's snap out of it! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHe looks delish, I could just nibble him up! Great post.
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