Trip to the dentist

Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of my going to the dentist. I remember the way the office smelled of cloves, how nice Dr. Shelley was and how we got to pick a pack of Trident gum when we were finished. My mom, sister and I always went together and we'd get to get off school for a few hours. We'd always stop at Dawn Donuts for a nutty donut laughing at how dirty we were going to make our newly clean teeth. Today I took my kids to the dentist. This was our second visit- our first was six months ago. Last time Avery was a trooper and they told her that next time she was going to sit in the big kids' chairs and that she was the youngest kid to do that. Asher was NOT happy. He kicked and screamed and the dentist barely got to even look in his mouth. Today I went alone with them. The whole way there Avery was telling Asher that she would go first to show him it didn't hurt, and that it tickled. Sure enough Asher sat there and watched Avery get in the chair, lay back, put her sunglasses on and get her teeth cleaned. I was surprised at how well he paid attention. He even asked Avery "is it owie or it tickle?" Soon another gal came and told Asher it was his turn. He went into an exam room so I left Avery out in the main room to go with him. He climbed right up in the chair and answered all the hygenist's questions without being shy. He picked a penguin tooth cleaner and orange toothpaste and allowed himself to be laid back in the chair with the big goofy sunglasses. He did everything he was told- opening, closing, tongue here or there and wider. The dentist came in and looked at Asher's teeth. He asked him to roar like a dinosaur and Asher did. He asked him if he had a favorite dinosaur, and to my surprise Asher said yes, the one with the spikes. Dr. Stine asked spikes on the head or back and Asher answered "his tail." A stegosaurus? Yes, a stegosaurus says Asher. When he asked Asher if he ate meat or plants, he answered plants. The densist was duly impressed (as was I) and I overheard him telling a nurse later all about his interaction with Asher. When we went back out, Avery was still in the chair finishing up. She didn't get scared that I wasn't there, and the hygenist told me that Avery told her that she was going to be Tinkerbell for Halloween because her Granny had just bought her a costume. The kids each got to put tokens in the toy tower and got little trinkets for being good. They were so well behaved I don't think I've ever been prouder of them both. I felt good about this dentist and am really hoping my kids have memories of going to the dentist that are as good as mine. Maybe next time we'll stop for nutty donuts.