Darth Schlictenstein

Since Brooklyn was a wee infant we have been taking her Dr. Schlicter. From the beginning we have fondly referred to him as “The Schlictenstein” and in the beginning he was both pleasant and helpful. I turned to him for every cough. But in the last couple of years something has changed inside The Schlictenstein. He has turned to the dark side. The enthusiastic pediatrician is dead. Darth Schlictenstein is our new doctor.

“Where did this bruise come from?” He insisted.
“I have no idea.” by which I meant I had no idea.
“Strange place for a bruise.”
“Yeah.” Oh wait, maybe it was from that severe beating I gave her. (heavy sarcasm).

“Does she stack blocks?”
“Yes, she loves Legos.”
“No, not Legos BLOCKS. How high would you say she stacks them?”
“I have no idea.”
“I see.”

Then, at Brooklyn’s five-year check up…

“Well, she’s definitely knock-kneed.”
“What?”
“Yeah, it will probably cause her problems in the future. Does she play hopscotch?”
“Um, no.”
“I see. Can she count backwards from twenty?”
“I have no idea. She can add and subtract and read books and memorize songs on the piano and skip, and ride a bike and draw everything she sees. But I don’t know if she can count backwards from twenty.”
“I see.”

Finally yesterday at Avery’s three year check up…

“Do you have any concerns?”
“Not really.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Well, I guess she could benefit from being around kids her own age. She’s used to playing with older children and has a hard time playing with other three year olds.”
“That’s very immature.”
“Yes, well she is three.”
“I’d say she’s acting more like a two and a half year old.”
“Hmmm.”
“How high can she count?”
“She’s solid up to five.”
“The next time I see her I want her counting backwards from twenty.”

“No bruises??? Is she a couch potato?”
“Not at all.”
“I get worried when I see no bruises.”

“I see that last year Avery was in the ninetieth percentile for height. Now she is only in the fiftieth percentile. Its probably not a big deal; she may be in between growth spurts. So we won’t check her for cancer just yet.”
“WHAT?”
“Yes, children with cancer don’t grow the way they should. We’ll have to see how she grows this next year. No reason to worry…yet.”