I have been getting great pleasure from parents telling me about how their children evoke my name at home (ah, the ego).
A 3-year-old patient of mine recently got a *very* small splinter and said to her mother: “If this doesn’t get better soon I’ll have to go and see Dr. Kim.” I think she is displaying excellent judgment in her self care, quite precocious in fact.
Sometimes, however, it seems that my name is a source of less positive behaviors. A mother told me that her 2 1/2-year-old son was playing with another child’s doctor kit at a party. As he placed the toy stethoscope on his playmate’s chest, my patient said “I’m Dr Kim, and I’m going to listen to your heart.” It turns out that I am the pediatrician for both of these children and thus ensued, the mother related, quite a struggle between these two doctor proteges about who was going to be my namesake in their games. Not exactly the way that I used to imagine boys fighting over me, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Today, however, a story from a mom gave me pause when thinking about the power that my words may have on the actions of my patients. While playing, her 4 year old attempted to stick a carrot into his ear. “Don’t do that!” she scolded. “But Dr. Kim does,” he replied, quite pleased with himself.
In my attempts at distraction, I do frequently search for carrots in the ears of small children. A word to the wise: I think I’ll switch to butterflies.
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It’s All Fun And Games Until Someone Pokes An Ear Out
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Filed under General Commentary, Kids Say the Darndest Things
Tagged as child, health, Kids, Medicine, pediatrics