I had some questions to ask the paediatrician, about Ri's next vaccination, her diet and sleep-patterns, queries on baby output etc. So we ventured out mid-morning, a visit to the doctor's office.
Ri's grand-father insisted she wear the over sized wife-beater and shorts he bought her yesterday and also wanted to oil her hair. Ri looked like a geeky boy.
Ped visits are always interesting and provide much fodder for thought and writing. I cannot but be amused by the way some parents dress their children, especially little boys. Noisy anklets, bracelets and two big black spots on the face to ward off the evil eye, the overall look is rather strange. Well, I’m sure they must be staring amusingly at my little girl wondering why she is not accessorized with the above mentioned. I would not blame them, she did look pretty much like Carmelo Antony today.
So Carmelo was pretty friendly at the waiting room. She addressed all the other kids as ‘Paapa’ (Baby in Tamil) and called both waiting medical representatives ‘Mama’ (Uncle in Tamil). In India, it’s pretty common to see bored looking medical representatives wait along with patients for an appointment with the doctor. Now, the annoying thing is when the room gets crowded and they do not offer their seats to pregnant women and mothers with young babies. Manners 101?
Ri then played a game of ‘give and take’ using the waiting room token with a sweet looking little girl who sat next to us. She must have been around seven and at first pretended to be disinterested with Ri but then succumbing to her charms, played with her for a bit. When I asked her why she had come to the doctor, she shrugged and said she did not know and that I should ask her mother. Well, I hope token girl is ok and her shrugging haughtiness is just a phase and not some mysterious illness that her parents cannot even tell her about.
The ped who was also my ped is old and wise and not one to make needless small talk. She looked bored when I passionately described Ri’s late-sleeping habits, her diet and my observation that she was playing 'too much' and asked me to ‘let her be’. However, she was tickled that Ri had no teeth and laughed loudly seeing my daughter’s hollow mouth. Which is kinda cool because my old and wise ped is very awesome but in a stern and serious way and it was nice to hear her laugh. She also commented that Ri was
'over-active' which I am hoping is a good thing.
Every time I bore my ped with mundane details about Ri's life, it's almost like I expect her to gaze at me lovingly, proudly and to announce to all the other mothers in the room what a fine job I was doing. Well, that never really happens.
Me: "Ri has banana and oats every morning with no sugar. It is her favourite food.I don't add sugar"
Doctor: "Ok"
Me: " She likes pasta"
Doctor: Stick to pongal etc. Don't give her tomato ketchup.
Me: Not pasta with ketchup. Homemade tomato sauce.
Doctor: Ok we are done. Tell me when you want to come in for a vaccination.
So my ped did not applaud me for keeping Ri sugar-free but thought I was feeding her ketchup. Sigh.
By then my daughter had sprung into the arms of the ped’s assistant, a nurse-type girl who did not really seem to be a nurse but who Ri decided to lovingly call ‘Aunty’.
I’m sure Carmelo will run for public office someday. Hopefully, she will have teeth by then.
Blog Title : I need a doctor – Eminem
Ri's grand-father insisted she wear the over sized wife-beater and shorts he bought her yesterday and also wanted to oil her hair. Ri looked like a geeky boy.
Ped visits are always interesting and provide much fodder for thought and writing. I cannot but be amused by the way some parents dress their children, especially little boys. Noisy anklets, bracelets and two big black spots on the face to ward off the evil eye, the overall look is rather strange. Well, I’m sure they must be staring amusingly at my little girl wondering why she is not accessorized with the above mentioned. I would not blame them, she did look pretty much like Carmelo Antony today.
So Carmelo was pretty friendly at the waiting room. She addressed all the other kids as ‘Paapa’ (Baby in Tamil) and called both waiting medical representatives ‘Mama’ (Uncle in Tamil). In India, it’s pretty common to see bored looking medical representatives wait along with patients for an appointment with the doctor. Now, the annoying thing is when the room gets crowded and they do not offer their seats to pregnant women and mothers with young babies. Manners 101?
Ri then played a game of ‘give and take’ using the waiting room token with a sweet looking little girl who sat next to us. She must have been around seven and at first pretended to be disinterested with Ri but then succumbing to her charms, played with her for a bit. When I asked her why she had come to the doctor, she shrugged and said she did not know and that I should ask her mother. Well, I hope token girl is ok and her shrugging haughtiness is just a phase and not some mysterious illness that her parents cannot even tell her about.
The ped who was also my ped is old and wise and not one to make needless small talk. She looked bored when I passionately described Ri’s late-sleeping habits, her diet and my observation that she was playing 'too much' and asked me to ‘let her be’. However, she was tickled that Ri had no teeth and laughed loudly seeing my daughter’s hollow mouth. Which is kinda cool because my old and wise ped is very awesome but in a stern and serious way and it was nice to hear her laugh. She also commented that Ri was
'over-active' which I am hoping is a good thing.
Every time I bore my ped with mundane details about Ri's life, it's almost like I expect her to gaze at me lovingly, proudly and to announce to all the other mothers in the room what a fine job I was doing. Well, that never really happens.
Me: "Ri has banana and oats every morning with no sugar. It is her favourite food.I don't add sugar"
Doctor: "Ok"
Me: " She likes pasta"
Doctor: Stick to pongal etc. Don't give her tomato ketchup.
Me: Not pasta with ketchup. Homemade tomato sauce.
Doctor: Ok we are done. Tell me when you want to come in for a vaccination.
So my ped did not applaud me for keeping Ri sugar-free but thought I was feeding her ketchup. Sigh.
By then my daughter had sprung into the arms of the ped’s assistant, a nurse-type girl who did not really seem to be a nurse but who Ri decided to lovingly call ‘Aunty’.
I’m sure Carmelo will run for public office someday. Hopefully, she will have teeth by then.
Blog Title : I need a doctor – Eminem
Toothless Ri is too funny! BTW, you never win with doctors...I had to find a new one cos the old one thought I was a momzilla!
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this practical doctor. Hang on to her! Years ago, well - eons ago, when I was a young mother, a practical pediatrician in Pune asked me to make sure I gave my son idlis, fresh natural sources of protein rather than tinned stuff. I must admit to being disappointed at how casual the ped was about my little prince. In hind sight i realise that a practical, experienced ped is worth his/ her weight in gold. Not only for how great they are with the babies but their ability to keep us mums grounded!
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