My sister rummaged through my closet and pulled out a t-shirt I made for a very unsuccessful run at a craft fair. She held the shirt out at arms length, and squinted as she read, then said, "I don't want to wear a shirt that says 'free hugs.'"
I told her, "Neither do I, and it doesn't say 'free hugs' it says 'fun bags.'"
She didn't want to wear a shirt that says that either.
I texted with my friend who said she's taking her kids to the dentist after going on a long hiatus, and then I got anxious because I haven't taken my kids to the dentist in over a year and a half. The last time I went, the dentist really pissed me off because she had a pleased look on her face as she told me my daughter could use some preventative care to fix her tooth gap. My kid was 4 years old. I wanted to swat the dollar signs out of her eyes with my handbag, and if it hit her in the face, well so be it.
I have an issue with pediatric dentists. After this incident, I thought pediatric dentistry could really use a good examination by 60 Minutes Investigation. These establishments are popping up as profitable franchises in strip malls, where for a couple thousand dollars a year, someone can stab around in your kids mouth for little long term effect.
The pediatric dentist I took my kids to, gave me shit when I told her the kids are not to be x-rayed. I read the article in the New York Times, "Whats the harm of a little radiation," and it made me even more closed off on the idea because I figured, my kid could break their arm after getting their head x-rayed, then need to get that limb x-rayed, and now they've had too much radiation exposure. I figure it would be better to save up for a time where radiation is imperative.
I don't have the confidence to tell people I think pediatric dentistry is a fucking scam. Preschoolers under anesthesia to fill cavities, on teeth that will fall out! Anesthesia is freaking hardcore! That shit should be used in extreme cases, like maybe if those rotting teeth are about to rot the brain. I don't understand why, they don't just pull the teeth out. I get worried, I will come off as some type of flat-earther when I talk about this shit, guided by kooky intuition, and paranoid a professional is trying to profit by putting my child through unnecessary pain and danger. Maybe if I knew all the science behind it, I'd feel better at picketing the industry.
My kids dad called up one day, in great concern that our children wouldn't be exposed to evolution because they go to Catholic school. I reassured him that our kids are most definitely going to be taught evolution. Then I remarked how lucky they are to be presented these theories on a foundation of faith, where most schools need to dispel this information as fact through the lens of atheism. I believe in God, undoubtedly, and want my children to feel there is a purpose to their existence. For science and math to be taught in a philosophical way, it promotes free thinking and advancement. Think of evolution and intention, simultaneously. Major scientific ideas that are cradled to people as truth, are in fact "theories." Lets allow these ideas to be malleable.
My kids and I discuss dinosaurs, and sometimes I present them with this idea, "What if dinosaurs still exist? They live at the bottom of the oceans, and within massive air bubbles deep under the surface of the earth. Lets say these air bubbles and the bottom of the ocean meet up, and it's an entire ecosystem deep within the planet accommodating massive reptilian like creatures. And sometimes after a dinosaur dies, its remains become part of the ground, and eventually works its way up through all the layers of the earth and emerges as a fossil on the surface of our planet..."
I plan to make us dental appointments because its time, but I am not going into any dental office that offers entertainment beyond a small fish tank and a couple outdated Highlights magazines. A room full of video game consoles, and a Keurig drink station, is a sure sign the dentist has whack priorities. The dentist will give me the usual lecture on flossing, and I really will be determined to be better about it. It's always on my new years resolution list, and from Jan 1 - Jan 3, my teeth get their annual floss regimen.
My cousin and I were speaking about our New Years resolutions, and she mentioned wanting to go to bed every night at the same time, and waking up every morning at the same time. I too, have read of these benefits, but when I don't have my kids, I see no point in getting out of bed at 5:30 am, and if I want to watch Netflix till midnight, I just go with it.
I am not an early to bed, early to rise kind of person, and I never have been. It goes against my biology. My grandma used to call me a slug because of how I move about in the morning. I like to sleep till noon. It feels great, and brings on a fantastic show of weird dreams, like this morning, when I dreamed I was on an airplane that emergency landed in such a beautiful place. I was ecstatic as I ran about, looking at dripping icicles, huge flowers, and even mermaids!
My little sister is a natural early riser. I remember when we were kids her favorite show was called Eureka's Castle. I only saw one episode because it was on at like 6 o'clock in the morning. I can picture her, needling around the house at 5 years old, getting herself a little morning snack, and then sitting down to watch her show, as everyone else was asleep. The episode I saw was about a dragon giving the hiccups to someone, in trade for a basketball. I am not sure why that stuck with me, all this time, but after I saw that, I had a really fun time thinking it over.
