It seems like I have been learning from my kids from the day they were born. When our second son received his PhD one of my friend asked me what is it like to have your kids smarter than you? I told him I was used to it, they have been teaching me since before they could talk!
Let me tell you what I learned from one of them about kids’ noses.
One afternoon, about Christmas time, my wife called to tell me our two year old picked a tiny Christmas ball off the wrapping of a present under the tree and stuck it up his nose. Could I or somebody see him? We tried to get it with a tiny forceps (tweezers) but it kept slipping further back into his nose. Finally we used a suction machine with a small hose attached and lifted it out with little difficulty. I learned the hose on a suction machine was a wonderful tool. I used it several more times in my practice.
A few weeks learned he taught me another thing they don’t teach in medical school. This time he managed to rip open a soft stuffed animal and had bits of foam stuffing all over the house. We (I should say my wife) picked them up and we though little about it. A week later he developed a runny nose and the worst smelling breath anyone had ever experienced. A quick look up his nose revealed the culprit, a small piece of foam. I removed it with an eyebrow tweezers. The runny nose went away, and the smell with it.
Many years later a new patient, from out of town, came to see me with her toddler. When I walked into the room I smelled the same awful smell and asked Mom to put the boy on her lap and let me have a look at his nose. Sure enough there was a piece of foam. I took a forceps from the cabinet and removed the problem. Then I said, “Now that we have that smell taken care of, tell me what brought you to see me today?”
She laughed and cried as she told me he had had a runny nose and terrible smelling breath for several weeks. She had taken him to his regular doctor three times and another doctor twice. Each time they treated him with antibiotics, he got better for a few days but as soon as the medicine was gone, the smell and the runny nose came back. Her friend, from our town, told her to bring him out to see me. “How did you know what was wrong before I even told you?” She asked.
I told her about my son who had had the same problem, and added “Kids are great teachers.”
Moral of the story: Pediatricians should have kids of their own! So should parents!
Kids of every age are wonderful teachers! I’ve learned much from so many of my patients as well as my kids.
I know everyone of you who has kids, and even those who don’t, have learned from them. Please take a minute and tell me some of the interesting things they taught you. You can enter it here in the comments, or send me an e-mail. We will all enjoy your story and learn from each other. My kids (all four) and my wife will choose the one with the best lesson and I will send that person a free copy of my new book, Tools for Effective Parenting when it comes out this summer!
Thanks! And have a Wonderful Easter!