The Stories of our Lives

Last Thursday, for the second time since he was born, I took Xavier to a lady I don’t know, who pierced him twice with needles full of viruses. This time I managed not to cry (too much).

On vaccines
I haven’t read extensive documentation about whether or not I wanted my child vaccinated. I did read some, and I know the health ministry recommends vaccination (am I actually saying I trust them?), and Frank and me have decided to have our children vaccinated. The article below is a good synopsis of the documentation I read, and the opinion I’ve formed:
Putting Risk into Perspective – National Network for Immunization Information (American Medical Association Briefing on Microbial Threats National Press Club Washington, DC June 1, 2000)
I’m still not sure about the shot against chicken pox, but we haven’t gotten there yet, and I’ll read documentation in due time.

On strength
I suck. Every parent’s aim, of course, is to have lively, interested and behavioured children. The behaviour part doesn’t require us to be over-strict or mean, but it does require some discipline. We aren’t quite there yet – Xavier is only 4 months old and won’t understand discipline for a while – but a time will come when we’ll have to set some rules and put up some restrictions. How will I do that if I’m not even strong enough to watch him get his shots without getting teary-eyed? I tell myself that it’s a matter of him getting hurt – which is not the same as reprimending him – but I also know that I have trouble to bear hear him cry, even when I know everything’s fine and he’s just tired and needs sleep.

Oh well – I’m sure we’ll learn. Surely the kind of persons the parents are reflects on how the kid will turn out? Frank and me – in our own opinions – are ok people, so our children shouldn’t be so bad, I think.

Here’s hoping our kids will be the ones the other parents compare their children to! Heh.