now here's something to smile about

Took #3 to the orthodontist this morning. What a wonderful place! First of all, the waiting room was calm. Serene. Yet very kid-oriented. There was a huge fish tank (#4: "ish! ish!") and at the end of the waiting room, there was another room which was a kid-sized arcade. Way fun! The sad part is that we didn't have to wait very long. Once you get past the desk, into the inner sanctum of the office, it was even groovier. Everything was open and bright and cheery. There were birds (#4: "eep-eep") And a gong! Kids get to ring it the day they get their braces off. Number 4 thought this was "marvey". (I know, the seventies called and said they want their adjectives back!) A friend of mine who works there - whom I shall refer to as "St. Michelle" - said, "Here, let him come with me," so that I could carry on a conversation with the doctor. (I smell bonus pay!)

Once number 4 was otherwise occupied chirping and gonging, I was able to focus on the appropriate child. Doc-Doc thouroughly examined 3's mouth, reviewed her x-rays, and concurred with my unprofessional dignosis: Let's wait. Watch the growth pattern, which, though crowded, isn't all that awful. She still has a bunch of baby teeth which need to come out.

Whew! I thought I heard a sigh coming from inside my purse, but I couldn't say for sure if it was my checkbook or not.

As we were preparing to leave (I needed a sponge to soak up my daughter, who had just been morphed into a sad, little puddle of disappointment because she wouldn't be getting braces any time soon) the girl we were working with handed us 5 coupons for free Chick-Fil-A kid's meals.

All that and a free orthodontic consult.

Dire Straits' lyrics "money for nothin' and your chicks for free" are floating through my brain about now.