Clara at the Doctor's Office

Today I took Clara to the doctor's to get her diaper rash checked out.  The doctor's office is on the fourth floor of a hospital. Clara wanted to carry her book, The Very Hairy Bear, through the maze of hallways to the reception area, with a few "reading" breaks on any steps that looked interesting on the way.

Our doctor shares a reception area with another office.  There were, of course, several people that Clara felt should see her book,  including an elderly lady who was quite charmed by Clara's intrusion of her personal space.

Next to the reception area is a large staircase leading up to who knows where.  Clara, having had lots of practice on the stairs at our house, decided to climb it (with me right next to her, of course).  Unfortunately, every kid in the waiting room watched her and decided it must be a fun thing to do.  Toddlers and pre-schoolers herded, en masse, to the staircase.  Parents shrieked out warnings and grabbed at their kids, looking at Clara with unmasked disapproval.  An instigator.  We decided to leave the stairs alone.

Clara enjoyed the examining room because it had some interesting books and toys, and because she could stand on the bench next to me and look out the windows.  She did not, however, think very highly of the doctor.

Doctor Schaffer is a really nice lady with a great education (Northwestern Medical School).  She's also very efficient and thorough, and probably not well-liked by many toddlers.  Clara screamed her fury while  the doctor checked her ears and throat.

"Mom!  This lady is trying to kill me!  And you're helping her by holding down my arms and legs!"

Clara crescendoed to her highest pitch as Dr. Schaffer shined a light up her nose.

"Now I remember!  This is the same lady who gave me all those shots before!!!!  How could you sacrifice me to this pathological prodder ?!!"

Dr. Schaffer finished the exam and Clara pressed her face into my neck.  She was pretty sure she was going to get a shot.

"It's okay.  No shots. All done," I said, putting her clothes back on.  She gave a great sigh of relief as Dr. Schaffer left the room.

"Thank God she's gone.  I don't know how you got her to leave, Mom, but we have to get out of here.  Fast.  Here, I'll take the lead."

At checkout, she got a sticker with a picture of a little green monster on it.  I helped her peel the sticker off its backing and adhere it to her pants.  On the way out, she tried to stick the backing on another little girl's knee.

"Honey, that side doesn't stick," I said.  The little girl smiled shyly.  She liked it that Clara came to share, even if all she had to offer was a sticker backing.

"Bye!" Clara shouted to the entire waiting room as we left.  She raised her dimpled little fist and waved.