open wide

What was I thinking taking three wily bambini -- including one lass with a just-discovered molar whose nap was thwarted by four bouncy balls going pell mell in a previously-posted no-fly zone -- to Target at 4pm this afternoon for "a few things"?

One wonders.

But I digress.  A successful trip this morning to the pediatric dentist (purveyor of the dastardly bouncy balls) brings to mind a couple of *toothsome* books:

Laurie Keller's Open Wide: Tooth School Inside is a fun trip inside the mouth in the guise of teeth going to school.  With the al dente* pupils, we learn about the anatomy of teeth and how to care for them.  The artwork has a sense of silliness and includes lots of wisecracks and sidebars that will probably be funnier to the bambini with subsequent readings as they get a little older. 

*thus concludes my rampant tooth-related wisecrack spree*

Other books we've liked by Laurie Keller include Arnie the Doughnut and Do Unto Otters: A Book about Manners.

There is also a book by Fred Rogers called Going to the Dentist from his series called First Experiences.  These books walk children through such firsts as learning to use the toilet, going to the doctor, having a new baby in their family, and moving in just the sort of gentle, straightforward way one would expect from Mister Rogers.

Such reading has been a part of our preparations for a first dental visit, like today's was for the younger lad.  He and his brother were seated side by side for their cleanings.  The elder lad had been a couple of times before, so he knew what to expect (including the bouncy ball prize at the end) and had been telling the younger lad all about it.  I'm sure this helped ease the younger lad's mind and any uncertainty he had going into the experience.  Upon arrival, the elder lad helped his brother out of his car seat harness and slung his arm around his brother's shoulder as we walked into the building.  Just to keep things real, these kindnesses were later followed by recurring fisticuffs between the brothers -- outside the Bambini Ride, thankfully.

Afterward, the younger lad described going to the dentist as "fun" and was thrilled to have his own new toothbrush, toothpaste, and little square of floss (which he tucked into his pocket). 

What can I say?  It's minute to minute around here.  Now that I think about it, a bevy of bouncy balls is actually a pretty good analogy for our home life, even when we haven't been to the dentist (or Target) ...