Wyatt turned 6 in March and Hunter turned 11 in April.  (Yes, we had 3 kids, 4 and under for a very brief period.) With their birthdates being so close, we have been able to schedule their annual pediatrician appointments together. It’s been convenient for us although I don’t think I would recommend doing more than two kids at once. (It’s a lot of questions, measurements, they may start playing or even arguing in a very small room… Two is plenty!)

I remember the days of having pediatrician appointments seemingly all of the time when they are little! 2 days old, 10 days, 1 month, 4 month, 6 months etc.)

I also remember always having to fill out extensive surveys on laminated forms with dry erase markers. There are so many specific questions about their development and milestones! I remember worrying to myself, uh-oh does he not feed himself with a spoon yet? as I checked off a million boxes on the form while hoping the baby isn’t crying or fussing or hungry or pooping while we were there in the waiting room. If we weren’t right on target meeting monthly milestones, it was so concerning our first time around! And by #3 it was so easy and I recall feeling so much more at ease. No, he doesn’t do that yet, but I know he will!

No question forms for me to fill out today. And no monthly appointments any more either. I realized today, I haven’t been here in this office in a long time. It has been a few months! We just have annual appointments and a few sick appointments a year thankfully. Last time I was there we were getting an X-ray for Wyatt to rule out pneumonia (it was negative!) and Deacon’s 9 year old appointment. Gone are the days of appointments for slow infant weight gain, ear infections and breathing treatments, multiple respiratory viruses, X-rays and our favorite, lacerations with stitches to the head (ahem, twice in 2 months, Deacon. )

Hunter, however, did have a form for him to fill out today. It was a depression surgery. And not a kid’s version depression survey either. It had the same questions in there that I have seen at a post-partum appointment or annual doctor visit myself! Since it was for him, I handed him the clipboard and allowed him to read the questions and check the boxes. I read over his shoulder and felt uneasy.  Eventually he said Mom! Look at these questions?! (Have you had thoughts or suicide or k*lling yours**f?!!) Wow, They really have to ask kids this stuff starting at age 11. Oh my gosh. I have to mention it to the nurse, I thought, to see what she has to say about it.

Once we were with the nurse in the tiny room, the boys were weighed, measured, BP checked and individually asked questions. After asking Hunter about seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping and going to the bathroom, she asked him, “Do you smoke cigarettes?” What?! he replied out loud. She was serious. And she continued to ask “Have you drank alcohol? Done dr*gs?”. Finally, I said it, “Already??” To which she replied, “Oh yes, you’d be surprised.” Why wasn’t I prepared for this?

Wyatt got his normal questioning about eating habits, sugary drinks, hearing the teacher and seeing the front of the room, and brushing teeth questions and so forth. And then that was it.

So, 11. I guess it’s 11, the age they begin asking kids adult questions. I didn’t know. If you have a young child, consider yourself prepared.

The pre-teen years are already causing us stress but this is a whole new Era. One in which I know we will be tested the most and many lessons will be learned. Oh boy!

Lord, please help prepare us for the pre-teen, teenage and all that comes with these challenging and rewarding years ahead. 

Oh and at age 11 there is the option to begin the HPV vaccine.

Here we go.❤️🙏😬

Right or wrong about the survey and the questions, my goal in sharing this here is to help prepare my fellow mom and dad friends for what is coming ahead. I know, it is important to have these conversations early and often. And we have talked about many of these things before. I just wish my mama heart was prepared for this big change in what Hunter’s annual check ups now look like. And I would have prepared him for the questions that he can expect before heading into it so that it wasn’t such a shock. From questions about spoon feeding to cigarettes, the time flies by incredibly fast.❤️

This is the biggest part of my WHY in my personal mission to be as healthy as I can possibly be, all around. These boys are growing so fast. I care about nutrition and work out nearly every day to build strength to keep up with these boys,  no matter what, and will be able to for the next 40!

Xoxo

Kim