Page 9 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“I stay home with him. I am looking to go to work and trying to find daycare first. I am concerned about that.”

“I think the best thing to do is introduce him slowly. Maybe find some other mothers and have a playdate? If you don’t know anyone, we’ve got group lists here that other parents have formed. Being on a small island, it’s something we’ve encouraged and seems to work out well.”

“I’d love that information,” Stacy said. “I really appreciate it.”

“Good. But now for the bad part of the visit. This is where I’m the mean one.”

Stacy cringed. “I didn’t tell him it was happening.”

She understood that. It usually went well for everyone involved if that was the case.

“Is he better if he doesn’t know beforehand and sees it after?”

Gabriela liked to let the child know what was happening. Scaring or surprising them was never a good thing, but she wouldn’t interfere if a parent wanted to do it otherwise.

“He’ll be fine as long as he’s on my lap,” Stacy said.

She walked over and pulled out the needle, and already Levi was squirming. “I will need you to keep him still.”

“I will,” Stacy said, pulling her son’s shirt sleeve up.

“Levi. Do you like stickers?” He wasn’t paying attention to her. Rather than push or fight, she pulled open another drawer and got the sheet of stickers. “Look. It’s animals. Just like you were pointing to in the book.”

Levi turned and pointed. “Dog.”

“That’s right. Dogs. I’ve got to give you this shot in your arm.” She pointed to his arm, but didn’t touch him. “And when I’m done, you can have the whole sheet.”

“Wow,” Stacy said. “Normally you only get one, Levi.”

The little boy looked excited over that. Hey, she’d give him more than a sheet if she could get out of her first appointment without causing tears.

“Can I give you your shot and you can get the stickers?”

Levi’s eyes were going back and forth, he shook his head.

Didn’t think so.

“How about Mommy lets you have a donut when you’re done?” Stacy asked.

“I’d do it for a donut,” she said, nodding her head. “What’s your favorite kind?”

“Do it,” Stacy mouthed.

She wiped Levi’s arm with the alcohol. He wasn’t crying yet. “Do you like chocolate or jelly? Chocolate is my favorite.”

“Jelly,” Levi said. She put the needle in quickly, he jerked, but his mother kept him in place and she finished before a shout was let out.

“Wow. You’re done. Oh my God,” she said, putting her hands to her cheeks and making Levi laugh. “My very best patient of the day.”

“Levi,” Stacy said. “Did you hear that?”

“Dog,” Levi said, pointing to the sheet of stickers she’d left in sight.

“You betcha,” she said, handing it over. “What a good boy you are. So strong.”

He lifted his arm to flex it as she put the Band-Aid on.

“He’s a little ham.” Which she could see.