Toddler Tears

I had to take Stefanie for her last Hepatitis injection yesterday morning. I left it till the very last to tell her that we were going to the clinic and told her in the car when we got to the school as I sitll had to drop Joshua off. Crocodile tears followed and she told me that her arm is better and she no longer needs 'to have a prick'. I had been preparing myself for her big tears which she is so good at turning on.

We got to the clinic and thankfully the wait was not too long. I kept her mind off what was about to happen and had her colouring and playing with her wooden magnet set. She even happily stood on the scale, normally she would not let my hand go and therefore not get an accurate weight. Once her name was called to see the nurse she turned on those toddler tears. The nurse chatted to her and I promised her that this was the last injection. I held her while the nurse prepared the injection and she just kept on saying 'I want my Daddy'. I think the injection hurt my heart more than her but she did cry and the nurse put the plaster on.

In the car she told me in the meekest little voice that she does not think she can go to school as she has a sore arm. Poor little dear, I wish I could have taken her home and cuddled her all day but I needed to get to work. She was a bit tearful when I dropped her at school and it did not help that her teacher was off ill.

But when I collected her in the afternoon she was all smiles and happy and almost forgotten the mornings beginning. Except last night she told me that I must not just drop Josh off at school and take her to the clinic. She told me 'I do not like that place'. She told me that same thing again this morning, I suppose just to make sure.

Thankfully this brings Stefi up to date with the immunisations and she will not need one again till she is 6 years old.