A Brave Girl

We've been taking Kiersten to the dentist with us since she was about 1 year old. When she was 2 she let the hygenist look at her teeth (from the safety of mom's arms, of course), when she was 2 1/2, she sat in the chair and got as far as letting the hygienist put the "necklace" around her (the napkin on a chain) neck before she was done. At 3 she let the hygienist take some x-rays of her front teeth (she'd done a face plant on the tile not too long before that!) with no "necklace!" At 3 1/2 she let the hygienist polish 4 teeth before she was done. And finally a few weeks ago she let the hygienist scrape the plaque off all of her teeth, but no polishing, while sitting on mom's lap in the dentist's chair. We were so proud of her and how brave she was.

Of course, it helped that we'd gone to the store that morning and she'd spent (what felt like) hours going up and down the isles trying to choose the perfect "reward" (not a bribe, a reward!) for being brave at the dentist's office. She finally settled on a Snow White doll with several dresses and shoes to change. When she got scared and was ready to be done, we talked about how we would have to take the Snow White doll back to the store, but if she could just be brave for a few minutes more she's be able to open the doll and play with it on the way home. Thankfully it worked, and a very patient, wonderful hygienist managed to clean all Kiersten's teeth. Thanks, Ms. Valerie!

(Oh, and just in case you're wondering, Kiersten added the headband after I'd done her hair and hairbows!)