Monday, July 28, 2008

What The....???

As a parent, I am almost 12 years old. Which means my oldest child Samantha is almost 12. I consider myself well versed in the way of immunizations. They start when they are so young getting those all important shots, that rip your heart out as you stand by helplessly and watch your precious child become a pin cushion. Today I took Sammi for her 6th grade shots and Kassi for her next Hep A. I felt relatively comfortable as I stood in line at the free clinic (I've gotten smarter over the years, and realized that free is the way to go. After all they're the same shot no matter where you get it.) I didn't even flinch as my children were given their dreaded innoculations. I was strong as a rock, after all, there wasn't anything new they could throw at me right? WRONG!!! So as lady at the counter starts highlighting all the shots that Sammi needs, she hands me a flyer about an optional shot. "Would you like your daughter Samantha to have the HPV vaccine today, it is a shot for recommended for girls ages 11-12 before they become sexually active."
I stood there flabbergasted for a moment and tried to pretend that my brain didn't shut down at the fact that she just said my daughter's name and the words "sexually active" in the same sentence!!! All reason left my mind as I politely rejected the shot, when all I wanted to do was scream at her and say, "ARE YOU CRAZY??!! SHE'S 11 I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT STUFF ALREADY!!" Sammi of course wanted to know what that shot was for? And why she wasn't getting it (not that she wanted anymore, mind you.) Remember that I told you my brain left my body, right? So I wasn't thinking correctly when I answered her. "That shot is given to girls before they become sexually active so they don't get viruses when they have sex. But your not going to be having sex, so you don't need it, right?" She just agreed with me, embarrassed I'm sure that her mother just said sex three times in public. Now my poor daughter probably thinks that people get a virus when they have sex unless they have this shot first!! And a big part of me is ok with that!!! How messed up is that??
I know that I need to approach this more reasonably, but I'm going to need someone with a clearer head to explain the benefits of this shot before I can get over the initial shock. Thanks for listening to my rant. And to all my friends that only have boys and always longed for that one daughter...BE THANKFUL!!! LOL!!

6 comments:

Jenni James said...

Okay.. so I wouls so freak out too! hahahahah! I can't believe you totally slipped in front of her! LOLOL! I would say poor girl, but I have to say poor mom! LOLOL

Merrimom said...

Wow...I don't know what to say! I haven't heard of that shot at all. You poor things! True that it shouldn't have to be thought of for a while, but also it's true that we have to be informative earlier than we want to as well. I don't know if I like that part of the parenting thing. I am glad, for more than one reason, that I am one of those moms with only boys though....not that it's going to be any easier in the future, just different. Good luck!

Tara Brooks said...

I had Resa get the shot (and she needs to go up for follow ups too). However, the only reason I did, was not "just in case" she becomes sexually active, but more so, "just in case" she doesn't have a choice about it. She really doesn't know what the shot was for, other than to keep her from getting diseases.

NancyM said...

When Juli got her shots last year, they, too, advised me to give her the HPV shot, I declined, and told them I wanted to talk to my OB/GYN first. My OB/GYN said not to give it. It only protects against a small portion of the strains that are out there, and the risk is far worse. I chose not to have Juli vaccinated for it.

Davis' said...

I totally laughed my head off. I went ahead with the shot for Cori because some of those infections could cause cervical cancer, and that cervical cancer doesn't have signs until its advanced. that made me nervous, so I went ahead with it. good luck in your decision.

Crazy Costello Creations said...

I'm laughing so hard I am crying!!!! and my stomach hurts!!!!
The funny thing is I probably would have done the same thing. The question is if I were faced with that decision with you and Tiffany what would I have done.I can't honestly say, and am glad I didn't have to make that decision.