Friday, May 14

 


When my son was a baby it seemed like he got vaccinated constantly.  Of course we were going to the doctor for checkups constantly.  It was part of life when he was an infant and then a toddler.  There was DTaP, MMR, IPV poliovirus...the list goes on and on.  My husband was smart enough to keep record of it all and scan.  When I started writing this I wondered how many and how often and because of his meticulous record keeping I had it had my fingertips.  He's gotten a lot of vaccines over the years.

It was never fun.  He didn't like getting shots in his (then) cubby thighs.  Who would?  But it was important.  It was vital.  And while he was a sobbing mess for a while, it passed.

I'd wait nervously to see if he had any reaction.  To see if he got sick.  As far as I can recall he didn't.  (I could have forgotten, but I think you wouldn't forget that kind of thing.)  As a mom you worry.  You always worry.

When he got to nursery school, he did get sick a lot.  Or at least that's how I remember it.  He was never really sick...he was never scary sick.  For that I am grateful and I realize that his health has been a blessing.  Still I worry.  A mom always worries.

As a kid, I know I got sick a lot.  I know I missed a lot of school for a variety of ailments.  It's been a long time, but I can remember quite clearly getting chicken pox when I was in 6th grade.  I was a total mess.  I was out of school for a long time.  I itched and I scratched.  I still have a few scars.  They told you not to pick and/or scratch, but I did.

He is a sophomore in high school and thus far I don't think he's missed a day of school.  As I said, I am grateful for that.  However, if he DID get sick, I would be the responsible mom and keep him home.  I don't believe in perfect attendance records; especially if they come at the risk of spreading something to the rest of the class.  I've felt this way LONG before our lives were interrupted by Covid-19.

Today, after school (in person school...who would have ever thought two years ago that being able to be in a classroom would be such a blessing?), I am taking my son to be vaccinated.  Even though he is a teen, my husband is coming along too; just like he did when we took him in as a baby.

Today the final step begins.  He will be getting the first of two Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines.  Even before the FDA gave it's blessing for children as young as 12, we had a plan in place.  When the medical practice we go to said they would be vaccinating 12 and up and that appointments were to be had, we were on it.  (Ok, let me be honest; I was in the middle of something when the notification came in.  My husband jumped on it with my blessing.)  The notification came on Tuesday night and that evening we scored an appointment for this afternoon.

I'm not 100% how my son feels about this, but I know both my husband and I are excited...and probably a little nervous.  (Who wouldn't be?)  But this is it.  This is the beginning of the end.  After he is fully vaccinated in June, it means that everyone is our family (including our extended family) has been successfully vaccinated.  It means that we can be the family that we once were.  We can see each other. We can hug each other.  Something that I know both sets of grandparents are longing for.

Today, Friday, May 14, 2021 is vaccination day.  I'll be watching my son.  I'll be praying that he doesn't have any side effects to this or the 2nd shot that he will receive in June.  (Especially as he is part of an outdoor concert this evening.) But if he does, we will get through it.

And then we will breathe a sigh of relief.

Vaccination:  it's a beautiful word and it's a beautiful thing.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more