In a nutshell, here’s the A to Z of Mia’s annual checkup:
A is for Active
The doctor emphasizes the importance of keeping kids engaged and off screens. Mia, a little dynamo, swims, rides horses, and dedicates a couple of hours daily to exercise—television holds no allure for her.
B is for Brief
Upon arrival, we’re required to complete a standardized checklist in the waiting area. The first question reads, “Please describe your child briefly.” My inner comedian wants to rebel and respond with something witty. But instead, I keep it simple: “Joyful. Caring. Determined.”
C is for Chomp
At one stage, we handed her a wooden tongue depressor—let’s just say it didn’t end well, with splinters everywhere!
D is for Development Questions
The checklist included queries like, “Does not play well with others?” Check. “Does not communicate effectively for her age?” Check. “Seems slow to understand?” Check. It’s a frustrating exercise—part heartbreaking and part absurd.
E is for Eating
Mia’s current diet consists of everything under the sun, which means we need a chew toy to keep her busy during the visit. She’s lost interest in our current stash, so perhaps a stethoscope-shaped one would do the trick.
F is for Five Stars
Our pediatrician awarded us five stars as parents. It may sound silly, but it was reassuring to hear. Self-doubt is a tough pill to swallow, and this compliment felt like a soothing balm.
G is for Growth Chart
Why do we need to know where Mia stands on the growth chart? She devours food like a linebacker! What could we possibly change?
H is for Happy
This word echoed throughout the visit. Despite her busy schedule, Mia is generally a joy to be around.
I is for Immature
Another checklist item: “Immature; acts younger than her age?” Check.
J is for Juice
The doctor recommended cutting down on juice and increasing her water intake. Mia has never been much of a juice drinker anyway.
K is for Kiss
During a discussion about Mia’s affection, she leaned in and planted a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek. So sweet!
L is for Limits
My partner often says, “The only limits Mia has are the ones we impose on her.”
M is for Milestones
On the back of the developmental checklist were milestone markers. For years, I was told to disregard these since Mia’s delays made them irrelevant. Knowing this is one thing, but actually letting go was a challenge.
N is for Nurse
The nurse was new and unfamiliar with Mia. I often feel awkward when someone asks Mia a question and waits for her to respond. I need to do better at stepping in to clarify her nonverbal communication.
O is for Open
The doctor checked Mia’s ears—everything looked good!
P is for Paleo
We’ve modified Mia’s diet over the years, and the Paleo approach suits her well. Minimal reflux, less indigestion, and her eczema has almost vanished. Yay!
Q is for Quality
Our pediatrician is truly fantastic. She consistently asked, “What else can I do to assist you right now?”
R is for Relentless
Keeping Mia contained in that examination room is a workout! It definitely requires teamwork. She’s non-stop energy, and it’s honestly fantastic.
S is for Shots
Mia received three vaccines: flu, polio, and another one I can’t recall. I held her hand during each shot; she tensed up but didn’t shed a tear. Incredible!
T is for Testing
We’ve mapped Mia’s genome but still don’t have definitive answers. I think we’re okay with that.
U is for Uncharted Territory
Next fall, Mia will start kindergarten. Will she be potty trained? Can she navigate the hallways?
V is for Vision
Mia needs corrective lenses, and her current frames allow her to pop out the lenses—definitely a new eye exam is on the horizon. We’ll be visiting that ophthalmologist who once dismissed our concerns about her vision.
W is for Weight
The scale is a disaster! Mia won’t sit still, making it impossible to weigh her accurately. Picture two adults attempting to balance a squirming python on a tiny unicycle while a third person paints its portrait.
X is for X-Rays
Mia’s hips are doing great, so thankfully there was no need for any X-rays during this visit. Grateful for that!
Y is for Year
Back to that developmental checklist—this year I caught a glimpse of her file, which showed the same checklist from last year. In the section asking how I was doing as a parent, I’d written “Fine” with jagged handwriting, clearly annoyed. This time, I confidently wrote “Great.”
Z is for Zero
Overall, we’re in a good place with Mia. Aside from needing a vision test, we have zero pressing concerns.
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Summary
Mia’s annual checkup revealed her active lifestyle, developmental progress, and a few areas needing attention, such as vision. The visit was filled with reassurance, laughter, and the recognition of our journey as parents. We’re feeling good about where we are—zero urgent concerns aside from a vision test.
Keyphrase: Annual pediatric checkup
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