try
try
again.
You might remember that Kendrie got headgear from our local
To say she despised that headgear would be an understatement. The primary problem (besides the fact it was uncomfortable and ugly as hell) were the two metal pieces running down the sides of her face. She was supposed to wear the headgear all night, but she is a tummy/side sleeper, so you can about imagine how good that worked out. The orthodontist's reassurance that she could be "trained" to sleep on her back? In my opinion, that's a load, and unreasonable to expect. *I* am a tummy/side sleeper and if someone told me I had no choice but to sleep on my back for the next few years, night in and night out ..... well, I'd cut them, man. So no way was I going to ask my daughter to do something I wouldn't be willing to do myself.
We went back for a check up and when I explained the problem, he suggested a different headgear, with the metal piece running right down the middle of her face --- sleeping problem solved. Now, of course, the problem is that she'll need corrective eye surgery because the entire time she has it on she goes cross-eyed, looking at the metal, but oh well. At least her teeth will look good.
However, she still hates it. She complains that it pulls on her top teeth. When we explain to her that yeah, that's pretty much the point, she insists it hurts too much to wear. We insist that it cost too much NOT to wear.
It has been a battle since she got it, worsening each night. One which I am tired of fighting. Tonight, amidst the tears and frustration and anger, she hurled the following comments at me:
1. "This is worse than when I had cancer!!"
2. "Why do all the bad things happen to me and nobody else?"
3. "You are the meanest mother in the whole world for making me wear this!"
My replies:
1. "Oh dear Lord, you've got to be kidding me. Clearly, you are a drama queen and have amnesia."
2. "You are not the only person in the whole world that has bad things happen to them. Kellen has had surgery for tonsils and adenoids and he'll probably get a shot next week at the doctor .... that should make you feel better. No? It doesn't? You know what? On second thought, I know just how you feel lately."
3. "Yeah, well, get in line. Now put on the damn headgear."
