Bracing for Braces

When Bubba needed to get braces we were super anxious.  He doesn't do well with any kind of discomfort and we foresaw all kinds of panic at the prospect of having braces and not being able to rip them off. 

He got the palate expander put in first and sometimes when we'd adjust it at night, he'd actually see stars and feel dizzy.  This was not something the orthodontist's office had ever heard of.  But in our family, "something no one has ever heard of" is commonplace.  Bubs was very unhappy the first couple days with the expander and I was stressed out, wondering how we would EVER be able to bear braces in the future.  

Well, he got used to the expander and in a couple months' time, was ready for the next phase.  Let me rephrase - he was physically ready for the next phase.  Emotionally he was a wreck.  Despite our attempts at telling him the benefits, he insisted he did NOT want braces and that he didn't need them and didn't care how his teeth look.  Concerned for the state of our household and the nightmare that was sure to ensue, we still ventured forth and made the dreaded appointment.  The ortho's office allotted us extra time, knowing this could be a difficult appointment.  They gave us two hours. 

On the morning of the appointment, Daddy took Bubs to the ortho's office while I stayed home with Matilda.  Daddy and I agreed to keep in touch via text messages, both of us nervous about how he would react (or OVER-react as the case may be).  We expected him to require several breaks, possibly vomit, at some point refuse to continue, and who knows what else. 

They arrived for the appointment at 9 AM and I got my first text saying that the technician had called him back.  Around 9:20 I asked for an update and was told all was quiet and Daddy remained in the waiting room.  At 9:45 I got a text saying simply, "He's DONE!" 

Oh no. 

I interpreted that to mean, he's had enough.  He's refusing.  He's going to come home with brackets hanging from his lips and wires sticking out of the sides of his mouth because he flat out refused to go on.  I tentatively texted back, "Done...meaning?..." and received "Finished. He is all smiles!"

And that was it.  Bubba came home wearing a new black T-shirt which read "Got Braces?" and he was elated.  Hopping around with joyous energy, grinning a new metallic grin from ear to ear.  Feeling quite grown up and recognizing that sometimes we really make a big deal out of a little deal.  We so unnecessarily freak ourselves out over what might happen, what we fear will happen, what could happen. 

It was a great lesson for all of us to remember to relax, prepare for but don't always focus on the worst.  And even better, it was a great moment of triumph for Bubs who conquered a fearful situation and came out feeling more confident and on his way to an even greater smile than he already has.