My poor little man-child, C-dub,was faced with a dreaded doctor's appointment this morning due to a nasty case of poison oak that refused to comply with OTC products. Since he's my little picker and itcher, I feared the worst when I saw that his rash was getting much worse rather than better. He did his best to camoflauge his "owies" with Hotwheels and *gasp* Barbie bandaids, but the all seeing Mommazilla couldn't be fooled and an appointment was made.

C-dub hates going to the doctor and I hate taking him. Thankfully, Hubby was home this morning and got the dreaded duty of dragging him into the office. C-dub has never been a sick kid nor does he really have reason to fear the doctor's office. It's just understood around the house that he's my little Paranoid Pete with a severe case of white coat disease.

Prior to the appointment, I heard Hubby giving C-dub a pep talk about what to expect when he got to the doctor.

C-dub: Dad, can you pwease tell the docta to be easy on me? He asks Hubby, in between the large tears rolling down his cheeks.
Hubby: Sure, buddy. I'll tell her to be easy on you. He's trying not to laugh and to also remember his request.
C-dub: Will I get a tweat if I'm weally good, Dad?
Hubby: How 'bout breakfast at Burger King? Only the best for you, buddy. The promise of the breakfast sealed the deal and C-dub agreed to go with Hubby to the visit.

Hubby told me that when they got into the examination room, he politely gave the doctor C-dub's instructions while C-dub patiently waited for her to respond. Hubby said the doctor chuckled after initially looking a little confused, but then agreed to be as careful as possible. C-dub later expressed his relief to me that the doctor didn't even have to touch him, although she did see his undies, which he wasn't too fond of. Modesty has found my five year old; unfortunately it bypassed my eight year old.

When they got home from the visit, C-dub proudly told me all about the visit.

C-dub: I did so good Mom! They even gave me a free Spongebob sticker. I'm a fan of his, ya know. And the dawctor didn't even touch mne, she just looked at me. I didn't even cwry. I had to give him a much needed bear hug and a smooch for this, which he promptly wiped off.

Later that night, when it was time for C-dub to take his medicine, we all lined up in the kitchen to watch him take his pill. He was so proud of the fact that he could swallow a "grown-up" pill rather than the baby bubble gum juice he had vetoed at the pharmacy. I'll admit, I got a little sniffly watching my man-child swig his Vitamin Water and pop his pill, but it was only for a passing moment. I realize that he can't be little forever and these little episodes are friendly reminders of his impending manliness.