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Freak Show Friday: On the contrary.

I went to Walgreen’s last night to get an Amoxicillin prescription filled for the Circus.

I handed the pharmacy tech the prescription and she asked if the Circus liked the bubble gum flavor in that medicine.

I had to think for a second.

I thought, I should know the answer to this, right?! Come on, Jenna. Think. 

And then the answer was finally clear as day.

“I don’t know.”

The tech gave me a puzzled look. One of those, you’re her mom, you should know whether or not she likes bubble gum flavored Amoxicillin.

I mean, I’ve had to use all my extremities sans one hand to hold her down on multiple occasions just so I can squirt a syringe of grape flavored children’s Tylenol in her mouth, while at the same time asking the good lord to please let her swallow it and not spit it right back in my face and hair, but that’s it. Amoxicillin was a new rodeo for me and the kid. Who knows if she likes the bubble gum flavor or not?

Seeing as how the tech was still a little questionable about this, I shrugged my shoulders and said, “She’s never had it before or any other antibiotic in her life until this point. I don’t know if she’ll like it or not.”

Then a wide smile spread across that tech’s face, her eyes got big and she looked at me like I was the freakin’ mom of the year. She said, “How did you do that?! You must have breast-fed her.”

On the contrary, my friend.

While I have nothing against moms who breastfeed, that was not anything I had the time for.

“No, ma’am. She’s never had a drop of breast milk.”

“Well, how did you do it then?”

I thought about that on the ride home. This is what I came up with:

Basically, I did everything you’re not supposed to do. 

I never sterilized a thing of hers. She played with dog poop a few times. She doesn’t drink enough milk or eat enough fruit and vegetables. I don’t make her wash her hands anywhere near enough and Lord knows, she doesn’t get regular baths. On top of all that, her living conditions consist of dirty floors and dusty furniture. And sometimes we pull dirty clothes out of the hamper to wear.

But if that’s the price I have to pay for antibiotics only once every five years, then a dirty, smelly child she’ll be.

Freak Show Friday: On the Contrary

Cheers to all us moms who set the rule book on fire.

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Comments

  1. Brocanteuserose says

    Hahaha oh my yes! I’m sure you might get some flack for this post. So I want to be the first to say, yes, yes, YES!!! oh and congratulations on being a great mom! We all need to hear it more often. 🙂 P.s. Sometime we wear dirty clothes that haven’t even made it to the hamper yet. Cause obviously I’m awesome at time management.

    Reply

  2. Kathy Grey says

    Oh, you made laugh out loud! Sitting here watching the news, read your post, laughed and changed the channel. Thank you! ?

    Reply

  3. JENNIFER says

    Sounds familiar. My two boys got raised the same way and they still hardly ever get sick. I remember my oldest being excited to be getting an award at the last of middle school. He was actually mad when it turned out to be an award for perfect attendance for the entire three years of middle school!

    Reply

  6. Tammy says

    LMAO! She doesn’t need milk any more, she’s got teeth. Humans lived for thousands of years without sterilizing anything. Hell, my mother didn’t even give me baby food, I just gnawed on whatever they were eating, cut down to appropriate size. Usually.

    Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  8. designing vibes says

    haha! I am right there with you, Jenna. Modern society loves to over-complicate parenting. I am totally old-school in my approach – lots of dirt, no sterilization and formula-fed all the way( and my kids have turned out fine so far).

    Keep on rockin’, mama!

    Much Love,
    Erica

    Reply

  9. Julie says

    Crazy Girl!!! This made me laugh so hard!!! My kids were super healthy too – and I just let them be ALL the boy they wanted to be! I did breast feed them for a few weeks each (mainly because it was easier for those middle of the night feedings, LOL!!) No sterilizing – thats just crazy!! dirty hands, playing outside, sweaty, stinky kids! I did make them take baths, but together so I could have a few moments of peace! so yes, I agree – the key to a healthy kid is to let them BE kids…..
    p.s. What rulebook???!

    Reply

  10. Julie says

    I DID/DO breastfeed (I just had my third) and we’ve never had antibiotics either – so yeah, it is all about dirty kids. Heck farm kids have the least allergies etc, proven by fancy studies 😉 why? Animals! Dirt! Poop! And probably hard work too ?

    Reply

  11. Alex Forbes says

    Amen to that! I grew up on a farm and I have a similar outlook to your good self. Only problem is I now live in a city with “townies” who do not appreciate my ethos. I think we’re the ones with the right idea though! My kids are rarely sick and that says it all doesn’t it?! Hooray for a bit of muck ?????

    Reply

  14. Stephanie S. says

    You are so great and truthful. I just had to laugh. If I kiss my dogs I believe I am not going to die. So very true. Being exposed to things helps us build up our system. Love it.

    Reply

  16. Gina Gutierrez says

    This will be the 3rd time I m posting. My computer is acting up! But anyways I once gave my son soda in his bottle because I needed some sleep. I know I know!! He’s alive

    Reply

  17. Kim Sapp says

    Thank you for being honest, Jenna. I, too, believe a little dirt is good for children. How else are they going to build up their immune system?

    Reply

  18. Susan the Farm Quilter says

    Actually, the more germs Circus is exposed to, the better her immune system will be at handling, well, germs! The experts say that raising a kid with animals (or on a farm) will decrease the possibility of them having allergies and being healthier that way. Good for you! I never sterilized anything for my girls either, but we did lots of antibiotics for ear infections and strep throat (until the tonsils of #1 child were removed). Burn that rule book, girl!!

    Reply

  23. Betty says

    I am glad to hear the Circus is probably feeling better. Maybe you don’t give yourself enough credit. I am sure you always have her best interests at heart. It is always difficult when you have a sick little one. Happy day to you and Circus.

    Reply

  24. Sharon H says

    hahaha, that’s too funny! But a lot of truth in the fact that she had an immediate, albeit short term immunity from you to begin with, and then by being introduced to all kinds of pathogens early on, she has developed her own immunological resistance. Good job, Mom of the Year!

    Reply

  25. Angela T Jackson says

    As a mom of 2, a preschool teacher.and someone who has a college degree in early childhood education. I say you go girl!!! Good for you!!! Sometimes we focus on not letting are kids just being kids and letting them have dirt under there fingernails (which by the way my 16 year old son has everyday). I love your blog.
    Angela

    Reply

  26. Brigitte says

    You’re #winning! There’s WAY too much germ-phobia going on these days and it’s detrimental to our immune systems. I’m willing to bet (altho I’m too lazy to do the research, lol!) that there’s an alarming rise in auto-immune disorders, not to mention just all around “unwellness;” food allergies, more common cold and flu, etc. Just mho, I hope someone’s willing to debunk me because it’s scary and sad.

    Reply

  27. Michelle says

    I know that my cat does not like her banana flavored antibiotics. As for the kids, it’s anyone’s guess. I’ve lost score of who has and hasn’t had antibiotics at this point, but they’ve been few and far between.

    Reply

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