Special Snowflake Stories

[greencat]

I imagine the closed door (because, in order for a door to lock, it must first be closed) mitigates the scary noises coming from the back as well. 

My doctor's office has a limited service dental clinic and they have signs prominently stating that no one can come back with their children during the procedure, as the dental office is simply too small to accommodate the presence of extra people.


Today I witnessed another pair of SS mycarisabus - one just whooshed up the bus lane, and I'm guessing had just turned up the lane by accident, but one green minivan distinguished itself by not only first driving north up the southbound lane of the bus only side of the street, but by then u-turning at a railroad track and driving south about a block down the northbound lane of the car side - nearly hitting another car or two in the southbound lane when they merged in.  I'm so glad the light at the end of the street was on "Buses go forward" when they did this, because otherwise they probably would have hit another car head-on.

[Piratelvr1121]

When my oldest was 4, he had to have surgery for a hernia and they let me know I could stay with him until he fell asleep and then I would be expected to leave the OR, which I was fine with.

[Reika]

I encountered I'mintoobigofahurrytopayattentiontoothersus today.

My work is in a moderate sized office building with over 1k people that work there regularly and we often have more people coming and going. As I was ambling along in the herd of folks going to the elevators, someone came bulling their way through the crowd.

Said person managed to get caught on my purse, feeling the tug, I asked "Give me a moment."

Or rather, started to say. The person yanked hard and took off. In the process they ripped out one end of a strap on my purse, so now I have to figure out how the heck I can repair it.

Wish I'd been able to see who it was, but there was too big of a press of people and the person (couldn't tell if the person was male or female) so I get them to pay for a repair or replacement.

So now I need to figure out how to repair the thing. Normally I'd resort to duct tape, but it's too nice for that.

[Shoo]

I encountered I'mintoobigofahurrytopayattentiontoothersus today.

My work is in a moderate sized office building with over 1k people that work there regularly and we often have more people coming and going. As I was ambling along in the herd of folks going to the elevators, someone came bulling their way through the crowd.

Said person managed to get caught on my purse, feeling the tug, I asked "Give me a moment."

Or rather, started to say. The person yanked hard and took off. In the process they ripped out one end of a strap on my purse, so now I have to figure out how the heck I can repair it.

Wish I'd been able to see who it was, but there was too big of a press of people and the person (couldn't tell if the person was male or female) so I get them to pay for a repair or replacement.

So now I need to figure out how to repair the thing. Normally I'd resort to duct tape, but it's too nice for that.

I think if you take it to a shoe repair shop, they might be able to fix it for you.

[doodlemor]

I encountered I'mintoobigofahurrytopayattentiontoothersus today.

My work is in a moderate sized office building with over 1k people that work there regularly and we often have more people coming and going. As I was ambling along in the herd of folks going to the elevators, someone came bulling their way through the crowd.

Said person managed to get caught on my purse, feeling the tug, I asked "Give me a moment."

Or rather, started to say. The person yanked hard and took off. In the process they ripped out one end of a strap on my purse, so now I have to figure out how the heck I can repair it.

Wish I'd been able to see who it was, but there was too big of a press of people and the person (couldn't tell if the person was male or female) so I get them to pay for a repair or replacement.

So now I need to figure out how to repair the thing. Normally I'd resort to duct tape, but it's too nice for that.

I'm sorry about your purse.  Maybe a shoe repair shop could repair it, or a place that does riding tack.

[snowdragon]

My sister reminded me of this one from a couple of years ago:

I was visiting my sister who lives about 3 hours away from me and we took a knitting class at a local shop that was advertised as an adult class and "get away from your kids and relax with a coffee, a glass of wine or whatever helps you relax"  I got there about 45 minutes early and took a seat next to where the instructor had her place set up, from the earlier class, she was cleaning up the area  before starting our "class"   I had a cup of coffee that I was drinking and a thermos in my bag, for later.
  Another woman came in about 10 minutes later had a glass of something in her hand - and a thermos in her bag. she sat directly opposite me. My sister arrived next and sat next to me and others filled in around . About 5 minutes before the class a woman and her young daughter walked in and announced that the child ( 7-9 in appearance) was going to be part of the class and therefor "there will be no drinking here" , instructor said nothing.
  The girl walked up to me and said "You need to move. NOW. This is my seat." I politely refused and the mother told me to move, that her kid needed that seat. I refused again. And the instructor finally piped up with no only was this an adult class, but that it was advertised as an adult get away evening and that I would be staying were I was.  She then ASKED the child and her mother to leave. Mother replied that they had been allowed to sign up and therefor they were staying - and that there would be no drinking in front of the kid. Out of the 7 other woman 4 protested this and said they were not refraining. Mother and child took the only two  seats left - and mother spent the evening complaining about folks drinking ( no one had more than one glass of wine and then switched to tea or coffee) and the child took over the class - any time the instructor went to help someone the kid got out of her seat, pushed in and said "kids come first, I need help NOW"  or some variation on the theme. Several times the instructor told her it was so and so's turn and she needed to wait her turn. and the kid would  just shove back in and shove her work in front of the instructor and would repeat this until she got her "help" - mom did nothing all evening to help with her kid.
About 3/4 of the way through the event - the shop owner came in and said "Why is Sadie here, Clementine, I told you I would not register her because this was for adults." At this Clementine said "I paid for two people and I brought her as my second!" Owner repeated that she had told Clementine that Sadie was not welcome, and that Clementine said she was bringing Florence, her older sister. And Clementine repeated "I paid for two people, Florence decided she did not want to come, so I brought Sadie, since I paid for two people."
  Owner asked how this had impacted the evening and people told her about not getting help, being told not drink and my sister told her that neither of us had received ANY help with our projects at all and that they had tried to force me to move -even though I was the first one there.  Owner walked out and went to her office. 
  My sister and I gave up and went home, we got a call the next day offering us a repeat of the ecent for free, which we refused since no one did anything substantial to curb Sadie and Clementine -we will not return to this shop,ever.
  This store just opened about a month prior to this  and I don't hold much hope for it to succeed - they allow the SS behavior and their prices are much too high, I'll be interested to see if it is still there next time I visit.

[Reika]

Thank you for the idea, Shoo and doodlemoor! It takes forever for me to find a purse, and this one I've only had for a few months.

Now to see if any such places exist near me.

[suzieQ]

I have always been allowed to accompany my child whenever she's had something done in a hospital, doctor's office, dentist's office .... anywhere.  I would not be happy to be told I couldn't go with her into the procedure room.

That is why we left a kid's dentist after one visit. J is special needs and he was young and scared. I went back to settle him down and all was well, so I went to the waiting room. On the door to the room was a sign (obviously for the workers at the office) **Keep This Door Locked At All Times**

Ah, no. I am not going to be **locked out** of the area that my children are in while they are receiving medical procedures, even if it is just a cleaning. If I hear my special needs child scream, you can bet I want to get back there, see what is going on, and do damage control so he won't refuse to go to the dentist for the rest of his life.

I don't mind being told I can't go into the procedure room, but I strongly object to being locked out of it.

ETA: This part of the thread is reminding me of this blog post: http://type1anautoimmunething.blogspot.com/2011/03/shot-of-versed-with-chaser-of-crazy.html
It took about 5 of us to hold J down after he was given versed!

The door needs to be locked so that any nefarious people cannot just wander back there willy nilly and violate all sorts of HIPA laws.  It's for privacy, not lock parents away from their children.

Well, that, and/or to limit the distance the "runners" can go.  Usually there needs to be at least one locked door between treatment locations and an outside door that could let a panicked (or oppositional) child into a dangerous situation (e.g., parking lot).

It was just different from other children's dentists in our area. The one we ended up using for years had doors between the waiting area and treatment area, but they were not locked, and  I was actually encouraged to go back with J to keep him calm.

Oh and the dentist office with locked doors had a receptionist that stayed at her desk, so she could have stopped any "nefarious" people from coming back and violating HIPPA. I could understand locking the door when she went to the bathroom, etc. But the "keep door locked at all times" sign just made me nervous. I had never seen a sign like that at any office I had ever been to.

And the panicked child explanation reminds me of a conversation I had with our "lab nurse" at J's doctor. J will be 16 this month and until 1 year or so ago, he had to be seriously talked down or sometimes restrained for shots/blood draws. The nurse told me once he was really doing well - she had a much older patient (still a teen) who managed to break free and run into the parking lot!

Oh and dental memories just keep coming. I had to take DD to have several teeth pulled/cut out when she had braces. My Mom recommended a certain oral surgeon so we went to him.
DD had the work done, but she told me later that it hurt when he was pulling, that she wasn't numb enough and that he just kept going. So I told him about the problem before the next visit, thinking he would do a better job of numbing her.
 (of course, I should have just not taken her back as I'm sure she made it known to him that he was hurting her and he ignored her. I was young, I was dumb.)

He said he would put her under so it would be painless. (not nitrous oxide but using an IV to put her to sleep) Ok. To the back she went, and I stayed out front. After that visit she told me he tried to pull the teeth without putting her under! After assuring both of us he would not do such a thing! She kicked him and he decided that putting her to sleep would be the best thing after all. We never went back to him again.

[Otterpop]

suzieQ, you just reminded me of my greatest parenting shame.

Same scenario:  DD had baby teeth that needed to come out prior to braces.  Oral surgeon assured me this would be an easy case and no general anesthesia would be necessary.  Cue me helping hold her down while they administered numbing injection after numbing injection.  Once she was "numb" they took her to a back room to perform the extractions.

I paced the waiting room for two hours, asking after DD and getting the "I'll go check on her" from the receptionist, who disappeared and was replaced by another staff member.  Finally, I was about to storm back room when they opened the door and revealed a nighmarish operating theater and a DD who was crumpled in a swollen heap.  I bundled her home where she told me she never numbed properly.  She felt the whole thing and the surgeon proceeded telling her it was "all in her head."

She now has to be sedated to go to the dentist, doctor, medical lab, etc.  Also, she's had a couple therapy sessions for medical PTSD.  Previous to this, DD had stitches, vaccinations with no trauma.  I will NEVER put my complete trust in a medical professional again, no matter how many PhDs after his/her name.

The SS part of this:  At our follow up appt. DD told Dr. she felt the whole procedure and he dismissed it saying "Some people interpret the tugging and pulling as pain.  It did not actually hurt." 

[Diane AKA Traska]

suzieQ, you just reminded me of my greatest parenting shame.

Same scenario:  DD had baby teeth that needed to come out prior to braces.  Oral surgeon assured me this would be an easy case and no general anesthesia would be necessary.  Cue me helping hold her down while they administered numbing injection after numbing injection.  Once she was "numb" they took her to a back room to perform the extractions.

I paced the waiting room for two hours, asking after DD and getting the "I'll go check on her" from the receptionist, who disappeared and was replaced by another staff member.  Finally, I was about to storm back room when they opened the door and revealed a nighmarish operating theater and a DD who was crumpled in a swollen heap.  I bundled her home where she told me she never numbed properly.  She felt the whole thing and the surgeon proceeded telling her it was "all in her head."

She now has to be sedated to go to the dentist, doctor, medical lab, etc.  Also, she's had a couple therapy sessions for medical PTSD.  Previous to this, DD had stitches, vaccinations with no trauma.  I will NEVER put my complete trust in a medical professional again, no matter how many PhDs after his/her name.

The SS part of this:  At our follow up appt. DD told Dr. she felt the whole procedure and he dismissed it saying "Some people interpret the tugging and pulling as pain.  It did not actually hurt." 

Ooooh, that is one of my biggest pet peeves... doctors who think they know your body better than you.

[CharlieBraun]

I wonder if, given the large commonality of "Children-at-the-Doc Horror/SS Stories" in this thread, that it might need to have its own home.

[Diane AKA Traska]

I wonder if, given the large commonality of "Children-at-the-Doc Horror/SS Stories" in this thread, that it might need to have its own home.

This is one situation where that makes sense. 

[doodlemor]

Thank you for the idea, Shoo and doodlemoor! It takes forever for me to find a purse, and this one I've only had for a few months.

Now to see if any such places exist near me.

Apparently I didn't pay attention when I posted, because Shoo posted about the shoe repair several minutes before I did.

If you live within a reasonable distance to any Amish, you could probably find someone who works with leather and makes tack for horses.

Another idea - why don't you email the customer service of the manufacturer?  Maybe they would fix it at a discount, since it is still relatively new.

[Jocelyn]

Exactly. And part of the reason *this* rule exists is that even though you (general) might be totally reasonable, even though you might not interfere or cause a distraction, there is no guarantee whatsoever that you won't turn into a basket case, start touching things, or otherwise pose a distraction or hazard to the medical professionals.

 

When I was in medical school, my mother was having surgery, and the surgeon agreed for me to stand in. I got to the OR and detected a rather cool atmosphere, which got downright chilly when one of the nurses asked me if I'd done my surgical rotation yet, and I replied that I had not. They used a sort of scaffolding for holding retractors, and at one point the surgeon invited me to lean forward and observe his work more closely. The circulating nurse grabbed me by the back of my gown to keep me from losing my balance and touching the scaffolding.
At the end of the operation, the surgeon having departed the room, the nurse said, 'You're the first medical student we've had, who hadn't already done their surgical rotation, who didn't spoil the sterile field.' I had worked in my small-town hospital as an aide, and had had the opportunity to do a lot of things aides didn't normally do, including assisting with sterile procedures. But knowing what happens when someone breaks the sterile field in surgery, I can't blame the residents and nurses for being annoyed that I was allowed in.

[Reika]

Apparently I didn't pay attention when I posted, because Shoo posted about the shoe repair several minutes before I did.

If you live within a reasonable distance to any Amish, you could probably find someone who works with leather and makes tack for horses.

Another idea - why don't you email the customer service of the manufacturer?  Maybe they would fix it at a discount, since it is still relatively new.

I live in Florida, and as far as I'm aware we don't have any Amish in the area, or have any leatherworkers around. I did find one shoe repair place near me, but they're closed.

As for the manufacturer, I bought the purse from eBay, I don't see any tags for who made it. But that's a good thought for the future.

And yesterday was a blizzard of snowflakes on the phones. The most memorable was one of our insurance agents giving me flack over the fact he had to wait around 30 seconds before getting through to me. I guess he was living up to his name, because his last name was very masculine in nature and his first name is the nickname of Richard that starts with a D and the filters don't like.

It wasn't the joking tone about waiting either. He was livid over the fact he had to wait to get through to someone on a Friday. I did politely point out that this is a call center that services customers in the entire US and American Territories, and that this is one of our busiest times of the year.

Then after answering his questions and I asked "Is there anything else I can help you with?" He just grunted at me and hung up.