The bead is free at last!
Tonight as the kids were going to bed, I remembered the antibiotic drops for Ian's ear. Three drops in and three minutes of lying still. It was Ian's job to remember the instructions given by the ENT in his office this morning. After the gooey medicine settled in, I thought I could see the bead. With flashlight in one hand and tweezers in the other, I set out to nab that little bugger.
Ultimately, it took the entire family and about 15 minutes of negotiating with Ian to get it out. We settled on $10 if he let me attempt to remove the bead and $20 if I was successful. He fought, we cajoled, he covered both ears, we pleaded, he had second thoughts - and third - and fourth, we held his hands and promised that if he said he was in pain we would stop immediately. All the struggling and rolling him over on his side worked in our favor by bringing it even closer to the surface. Finally, I saw that it was so close I could grab it. No more negotiating - I dived in while Steve and Ainsley held Ian still. It came right out a little slimier than it was when it entered, but it was OUT!
Now, you may question my willingness to bribe my son into letting me perform such an intricate surgical procedure on him. The way I see it, that $20 investment just netted me a savings of $300 in out-of-network insurance co-pays, a little more self-confidence for my son, and the knowledge that he can trust me to keep my word. I'd say that's worth an Andrew Jackson.
1 comment:
I chuckled aloud several throughout this story! I teach students with autism as well, and could picture the whole scenario in my head, only with my own students and bead in their ear. Well, more like up a nose or down the throat, but it all amounts to the same thing. I have one who hides under the table with the mention of "doctor," "needle," or "getting picked up early."
It's amazing the deals you will strike to get them to try new things, or tolerate uncomfortable situations . . .
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