The "P" Word

Have you ever taken your child to the doctor because you thought they were dying only to find out it was a hang nail or something similarly lame and of no consequence?

Have you ever walked out of the office thinking, "that guy must think I'm clueless!"

Well, that has happened to me a few times.

Not for a hang nail, per say, but I have felt like a moron leaving the doctor's office on more than one occasion.

My most recent was just a few days ago.

Ever since Doodle started school she has been having horrible pains in her feet and legs.

I waited for it to get better, but instead each day she got a little worse.
It was so bad that when I'd pick her up from school she looked like a cripple girl trying to walk without her crutches.

She said it sent stabbing pains up her legs when she put any pressure on her heal.

The result was a contorted gait that had me panicking.

I was sure she had brain/spinal damage from one of her many horse riding falls.

Or Fibromyalgia, or cerebral palsy.

She was dying a slow, painful death, I was sure of it!

After a few questions and some rubbing of her feet, the doctor gave his diagnosis.

You'll never guess what she has, go ahead, try!

It's a severe case of puberty!

PUBERTY!!!!

WhAt??!??!

What did you just say about my child?

She IS GOING TO DIE, I knew it!
Apparently it's a really common pain for kids starting puberty.

Turns out there's a growth plate in the heal of the foot and her body is literally growing too fast, which in turn places loads of pressure on the joints and tendons near the growth plates.

So ya, I took my child who I thought might die in the night to the doctors office for growing pains.

Mother of the year, right here!

I was so not ready for that diagnosis.

My kids are small, we don't do puberty in this house.

(Although I do have to say that the puberty smell did start a few months back, but I was in denial)

Now I feel like I'm in a roller coaster inching my way up to the top.

You know, that part where you know it's coming and you can feel your stomach in the back of your throat with nervous anticipation.

This is just the beginning. Beano will not be far behind.

What will this ride bring?

I'm sure it will be full of ups and downs and twists and turns, just like any good roller coaster.

I just hope that at the end of the ride we can breath a sigh of relief and say,

 "Wow! What a ride!"