Glasses- half empty, or half full?

Shortly after Meredith’s 5th birthday we did the annual well child check in with the pediatrician. It ended with 3 shots to the arm, which was way worse at age 5 than when she was a baby! Overall, Meredith is a quite healthy little girl, and we are so thankful.


As I have mentioned before, Meredith tends to be shy at first, and is one of those kids who will affix herself to my leg in certain situations. It’s just how she is- it isn’t a fault, it’s just something we have to work with and help to prep her for different situations. During the well visit she had a vision screening. Her shyness kicked in and she wouldn’t speak up so the nurse could hear what she was saying. She looked to Frank and me as if to get hints or validation of her answers. We told her this one has to be all you. Based on this they recommended an eye screening by an eye doctor. At that time we really felt that her being shy was skewing the results.

Meredith and I headed off to an eye doctor appointment a few weeks later. I did a lot of prep about speaking up, but if you can’t see it just say so. Her exam this time was similar to the screening at the pediatrician. I realize now that she was probably being shy because she can’t see what they are asking her to see! Meredith came back with astigmatism and far-sightedness. In a way it sort of makes me sad, but I don’t really know why. It is what it is. If you need glasses, you just do, like many people in this world.

Luckily, Meredith is not sad at all. She loved trying on all of the frames, and I think she pretty much tried on the majority of the children’s section! It was like a new kind of dress up. She looked cute in a lot of the frames, but the choice is a purple and pink pair. They should be ready in about a week, and then we venture into the world of taking care of glasses.

I still am thankful to have a healthy little girl, and one that is going to be more prepared for kindergarten being able to see the paper!