I have a pain in my chest.
It hurts.
It stings.
It aches.
It's caused by this:
She makes my heart, just… well…. she makes my heart crazy.
Yesterday, the wee one had her four month appointment. After weighing her and giving her the once over, they instructed me to put her on the bed and to hold her hands so that they could administer her two vaccinations. Now, I've given plenty of vaccinations to cattle. Lots of 'em. But when it's your child it's much different than a squirmy, hairy little calf. I shuttered inside. It's so hard already, as a parent, to see my child in pain….even if I know it is for her good. I knew I had to do it. But it was tough.
Shaye, quit being a weenie. You can do this.
Oh, but sad, she is going to cry and it's going to hurt her!
Shaye, quit being a weenie. You are a weenie.
I imagine this is somewhat like spanking. You don't want to do it – but you know it's for their benefit. Discipline is a blessing. Discipline benefits the child, it teaches them. It helps grow them in the way they should go. And shots? Well, shots just stink.
So there I stood, grasping the fingers of my poor precious babe. She lay, smiling, cooing…and then those danged nurses, they just did it. They didn't let me prepare. No remorse. No comforting. They didn't even say “It's okay, Mom, it will only be a short little poke.” I needed some consolation, man.
As my little one lay crying in my arms, I did they only thing I knew to do.
I was strong for her, like a good parent should be. I was brave. Valiant. A warrior.
That's a lie.
I cried.
I did. I admit it.
A few tears trickled down my pathetic cheeks as I dressed her back in her little onesie. She had tears too…real ones. Pain filled ones. Ones that even a Scooby-Doo band-aid couldn't cure.
I know I need to learn to be strong.
I know that the Lord will give me strength to get through these rough child-rearing days.
I know that I'm not a bad Mom for allowing her to feel this pain.
But dang it. Look at that little bug.
I would rope the moon for her if I could.
She was fine, after it all. But I was a weenie.
The end.
Kendra at New Life On A Homestead
Awwww!! I totally feel for ya, girl! When my firstborn got her first shots, I CRIED like a big fat baby. I wasn’t prepared at all for that heartache! It’s so hard when they are so precious, and are all happy, having no idea what’s about to happen. The next time we went for shots my husband had to take off of work to go with me. I stood out in the hall, bawling my eyes out (cursing myself, pinching myself, for being such a sissy), while Jerry held the baby down for her blasted injection. It didn’t get better. I cried every time.
It was a better with our son. Maybe I was used to it. Maybe I figured, he’s a boy, he’s tougher. I don’t know. But I didn’t cry, though it still broke my heart. He only got his first two rounds of vaccines though, before we stopped giving them.
My little Xia has never had a single shot. I’d probably cry for her too, I think. But from one mom to another (and you may have already done all of the research), I can’t let this go by without suggesting that you do some research into vaccine risks. I wish somebody had told me when my firstborn was a baby… but nobody did, and I just went along with everything the doctor told me to do. I regret it now. But I can’t take it back. All I can do is learn from my mistakes and try to be better with the next child. Anyways, everybody has their conviction about vaccines, and you may have already done all of the research and found that you prefer them, which is TOTALLY your choice. Ultimately, YOU are mom, and YOU know what is best for your child. (So not trying to lecture, just sharing my heart as a mother)
Don’t feel like a whimp about crying though… we all do it π
Kendra at New Life On A Homestead
Awwww!! I totally feel for ya, girl! When my firstborn got her first shots, I CRIED like a big fat baby. I wasn’t prepared at all for that heartache! It’s so hard when they are so precious, and are all happy, having no idea what’s about to happen. The next time we went for shots my husband had to take off of work to go with me. I stood out in the hall, bawling my eyes out (cursing myself, pinching myself, for being such a sissy), while Jerry held the baby down for her blasted injection. It didn’t get better. I cried every time.
It was a better with our son. Maybe I was used to it. Maybe I figured, he’s a boy, he’s tougher. I don’t know. But I didn’t cry, though it still broke my heart. He only got his first two rounds of vaccines though, before we stopped giving them.
My little Xia has never had a single shot. I’d probably cry for her too, I think. But from one mom to another (and you may have already done all of the research), I can’t let this go by without suggesting that you do some research into vaccine risks. I wish somebody had told me when my firstborn was a baby… but nobody did, and I just went along with everything the doctor told me to do. I regret it now. But I can’t take it back. All I can do is learn from my mistakes and try to be better with the next child. Anyways, everybody has their conviction about vaccines, and you may have already done all of the research and found that you prefer them, which is TOTALLY your choice. Ultimately, YOU are mom, and YOU know what is best for your child. (So not trying to lecture, just sharing my heart as a mother)
Don’t feel like a whimp about crying though… we all do it π
Amy Duncan Hauge
I cried when Mila had her first shots too Shaye! It just shows your a good mama π
Amy Duncan Hauge
I cried when Mila had her first shots too Shaye! It just shows your a good mama π
Anonymous
Of all people, I would have thought you would be more in the know about unvaxed kids. You didn’t have to do this. π
Anonymous
Of all people, I would have thought you would be more in the know about unvaxed kids. You didn’t have to do this. π
The Mrs.
Vaccination was not a subject we were ignorant about, but after research and thoughtful consideration (and a recent outbreak of whopping cough in our local town that took the lives of young babes) we decided it was the right decision for us and our child. I believe it’s possible to strick a balance between God’s gift of modern medicine and a holistic view of health.
The Mrs.
Vaccination was not a subject we were ignorant about, but after research and thoughtful consideration (and a recent outbreak of whopping cough in our local town that took the lives of young babes) we decided it was the right decision for us and our child. I believe it’s possible to strick a balance between God’s gift of modern medicine and a holistic view of health.
Stephanie Wilson
It is so incredibly important to vaccinate your child! You are not only protecting your child, but also helping to stop the spread of disease in your community!
Hepatitis, measles, whopping cough, etc. have not be eradicated. The risks of contracting these diseases do exist, especially with today’s mobile population.
And for those who think Autism is caused by vaccinations:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/06/autism.vaccines/index.html
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7452.full
Good for you Shaye and Amy!
Stephanie Wilson
It is so incredibly important to vaccinate your child! You are not only protecting your child, but also helping to stop the spread of disease in your community!
Hepatitis, measles, whopping cough, etc. have not be eradicated. The risks of contracting these diseases do exist, especially with today’s mobile population.
And for those who think Autism is caused by vaccinations:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/06/autism.vaccines/index.html
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7452.full
Good for you Shaye and Amy!
Anonymous
Now ladies, be nice… This is a good example of all the misinformation out there. However, if one does decide not to vaccinate their child it probably should not be on the basis of the research of Dr. Andrew Wakefield as it seems he falsified all of his data. It seems like his conclusive research linking vaccinations and autism was a big scam. But people can and will believe what they want to.
Anonymous
Now ladies, be nice… This is a good example of all the misinformation out there. However, if one does decide not to vaccinate their child it probably should not be on the basis of the research of Dr. Andrew Wakefield as it seems he falsified all of his data. It seems like his conclusive research linking vaccinations and autism was a big scam. But people can and will believe what they want to.