The Flu Shot

So today, Pearce had an appointment to get his flu shot.  He's old enough to get the flu mist this year, but he's a little stopped up from allergies and I just didn't trust that he would be able to sniff, so flu shot it was.  When I picked Pearce up from school, I decided to go ahead and tell him about it while we were in the car.  We had two hours before the appointment, so I just wanted to be honest and prepare him.  Well, he immediately started crying and got so upset.  I want to remember this conversation because at the end, I was so proud of how he worked through his feelings.

Mommy:  "Pearce, remember when you went with me to get my flu shot?  Remember how I was a little scared, but you held my hand and told me to close my eyes and think of something happy like how Daniel Tiger always says?
Pearce:  "Yep, and it just felt like a wittle pinch!"
Mommy:  "Yes, that's right!  It felt like a little pinch and then I got a cool bandaid and that was it.  So, we're going to go home for a little bit and then Mommy is going to take you to the doctor to get your flu shot, ok?"
          ------------------------------HYSTERICAL CRYING---------------------------
Pearce:  "I don't want to get a shot!  I don't wike shots!"
Mommy:  "Pearce, I know you don't want to get a shot, but you also don't want to get the flu because the flu can make you very sick.  I promise the nurse will do it really fast and it will only pinch a little and then be over."
Pearce (Still crying and so upset):  "I don't wike that nurse.  She is terrible!"  (I've never heard him use the word terrible before!)
Mommy:  "Pearce, the nurse is not terrible.  Terrible means something is bad.  The nurse is going to give you the flu shot so that you don't get the flu.  The flu is what's terrible." 
Pearce (Still crying):  "Well, she is terrible!  I'm not getting a shot!  Nope I'm not!"
Mommy:  "Pearce, is Dr. Sperling terrible?"
Pearce:  "No, she's my friend."
Mommy:  "Well, the nurse works with Dr. Sperling and Dr. Sperling only lets nice people work with her."
Pearce:  "Well, ok, the nurse is my friend, but I still don't want a shot!"
Mommy:  "Pearce, if you are brave and get your shot like a big boy, then after that I'll take you to get any toy you want at the Dollar Store, ok?"
Pearce (Still crying, but not hysterical):  "Ok, thanks Mommy."
Mommy:  "Hey, I know!  Why don't you take Woody with you?"
Pearce:  "And Woody can get a shot first?"
Mommy:  "Sure!  Woody can get a shot first and you can help him to be brave and then you get your shot and Woody will help you, ok?"
Pearce:  "Ok Mommy."
Mommy:  "When we get home, let's watch Daniel Tiger when he gets a shot, ok?"
Pearce:  "Ok Mommy."

So this whole conversation happened in the span of about 20 minutes while we were driving home.  By the time we got home, Pearce was happy and talking about how he and Woody were going to be brace.  We watched  Daniel Tiger together plus a few other shows and then it was time to go.  The whole entire time, Pearce wasn't scared at all....even when we got to the doctor's office, even when we were called back, even when we were in the exam room.  The nurse came in and Pearce immediately told her that Woody was going to get a shot first.  Thank goodness the nurse totally played along!  She could not have been sweeter about it!  So she went to get the shot and came back in and asked Pearce to sit on the table with Woody.  She asked him to hold his hand and told Pearce to tell Woody to be brave, which he did.  Then she got an empty syringe and gave Woody the shot and said "Oh wow, Woody was so brave, wasn't he Pearce?  Now help me put a bandaid on Woody."  So Pearce and the nurse put a bandaid on Woody's leg and now it was Pearce's turn.  The nurse told Pearce it was going to go in his leg just like Woody, so I pulled Pearce's pants down and secretly, I was so happy Pearce had cute undies on :)  So I laid Pearce down and the nurse told Pearce to hold Woody's hand and she was so fast...it was over!  Pearce winced and almost started to cry, but then he sat up and said, "That was fun!  I wike shots!"  The nurse just praised Pearce and told him he was her best patient ever!  She gave Pearce a high five and then gave me a high five and then gave Pearce a token to get a prize out of the prize machine.  She took Pearce's hand and led him out to get his prize.  She was absolutely the sweetest woman and I was so proud of my brave boy!!  We went next door to the Dollar Store so that Pearce could pick out any toy he wanted.  He looked and looked and at first wanted to get a toy axe which was part of a Halloween costume....I told him he should pick something he could actually play with :)  So he finally decided on silly putty because "I've always wanted silly putty!"  I told Pearce I was so proud of him and that now when he goes for his check up when he turns 4 and has to get shots, he knows they're no big deal! :)

Waiting for the nurse...

Woody getting his shot...

 Woody getting his bandaid...

Thumbs up after his shot!