Variously

First, I am touched by the number of you who took the time to comment and/or send private email responses about my "go public or not" qualms. I think that's the most email I've ever gotten about a post, and it was a delight to hear all of your opinions. I'm still not sure about what to do. Part of the problem, and what many of you may not know, is that I really do make my living as a professional writer, and lately I've written some stuff on parenting that I'm really proud of, and that I'd really like to share with you. And yet, I'm also kind of a snarky bitch, and I perhaps say things here that I wouldn't say to actual people. In person. Maybe. So. Decisions. To be made. Eventually.

Nextly, I got a call from the public school the other day. "Yes, were you aware that D. has not had all his shots?"

Morons. I called the pediatrician's office and requested shot records for all four kids. As requested on the recording, I spelled our last name and the first names of all four kids. I also requested a letter stating that D. is, in fact, up to date with his shots.

Nine hours later, the nurse called back. She made a big thing about only having one chart, because I only mentioned one child's name. NOT TRUE, but fine. She then allowed as it might take her AN ENTIRE EXTRA DAY to pull those charts, so maybe I should come pick up the forms on Wednesday, not tomorrow. Fine. We hung up. Five minutes later she called back.

"Did you know that D. never had a 4-year checkup?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm looking at his chart, and he never had a 4-year checkup, so the doctor can't sign the form."

"Wow. How did that happen?"

"The last time we saw him here was in March when he was sick. So there's no way the doctor will sign the form."

Can I tell you that the form was the LEAST of my worries at that point?

I mean, yes, we are D's parents and we have a responsibility to schedule his appointments, but I feel like the doctor's office should SHARE some responsibility, and if a kid never makes it in for a well child checkup, they should, oh, maybe CALL THE PARENTS. And in particular, when we came in in MARCH, because the kid was SICK, why not say then, "Hey, this kid never had a 4-year checkup! Let's schedule that!" OR, how about, when I got the first copy of his shot records in JUNE, why didn't someone in the office look at the record, look at the kid, and say, "Wait a second...."

In my defense, let's remember that I do have a lot of kids, and that D. in particular sees a lot of doctors. And, OK, the office has to MANAGE a lot of kids, but they're getting paid, and the last time I checked, I'm not.

I like my pediatrician, but I HATE her office. Every time I go there I wait AT LEAST 40 minutes. It's not uncommon to wait even longer. Callbacks from the nurse take nine hours. I'm not a fan of that. I'd really like it if the nurse KNEW WHO I WAS, since I do have four kids, and I am there a freaking lot. (Although not, apparently, often enough.)

I don't know. Is this TOTALLY my fault for dropping the ball? Or do they share some of the responsibility?