Hijo has entered that fabulous stage of life that we used to call "having braces" and which is now known as "endless orthodontia treatment." They like to get 'em young these days, and treatment comes in stages. One stage coming before all the permanent teeth are in, and the next stage after. This maximizes the duration of your relationship with the orthodontist, which consists of you writing checks to him.
So, while Hijo does not yet have braces, he does have a bite plate, a sub-lingual arch, and head gear which he wears from the time he gets home from school until he wakes up the next morning. It's nice that he doesn't have to wear the head gear to school, because although it is relatively discreet, people do, of course, notice it. And some of them feeled compelled to comment on it. This is harder on me, I think, than on Hijo. We were in the grocery store the other night and some young dude was so astonished at the sight of Hijo that he stoped in his tracks and said, "What happened to you?" And when Hijo didn't hear him, he walked over to us, put his hand on Hijo's arm and asked it again.
I am really wishing that Hijo had replied that he was part robot or something, but of course I didn't think of this gem until two days later. Instead, we patiently explained a bit about getting your teeth straightened, while the mothe of this young dude didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed for her kid pointing out loudly and in public something he found odd about my kid.
It wasn't horrible, and I realize the young dude was genuinely curious and not malicious, but it bugged me. It bugged me because I don't want Hijo to have to deal with ignorant people bothering him as he goes about his day. It bugged me because I used to have braces and so I am projecting a lot. It bugged me because I am reminded that I am dependent upon my mother, who is actually the person who is writing the checks to the orthodontist, not me. (Which I'm of course very grateful for, but it shows one way in which I'm falling short as a parent: financially. Which is certainly fodder for a post of its own some day.)
I keep reminding myself that in the big scheme of things, this is good for Hijo. It's good for his mandibular health and it's yet another good way for him to learn about how to deal with people and not take things personally.
And I got to say "mandibular."