Just Needling You

/ roughwighting

needle, vaccine, grandsons, Image by HeungSoon from PixabayBravery comes in all sizes and shapes. And ages.

When my CA grandson (12) flew out on his own to visit my guy and me, he received his second vaccine shot the day before. We were all a bit worried about him flying with side effects, but when we picked him up at the airport (see Oh, you’re one of THOSE | roughwighting ) he just shrugged and said “I slept for the entire 6 ½ hour flight.”

Easy peasy. Or so I thought. cousins, best buddies. summer swimming

Our local 11-year-old grandson, Clark, and Sky became best buddies almost immediately. Both boys joined us for hikes at Walden Pond and Mt. Monadnock, ice cream forays, swimming, and hours of Monopoly.

Clark turned 12 during Sky’s visit, so my daughter signed him up for his first Covid vaccine the day after.

Monopoly, grandsons, blogging“Would you mind taking Clark for his shot?” she asked me.

Sky chimed in, “It’s a piece of cake, Clark. I’ll come too.”

So at 10 a.m. on a sunny summer morning, I drove both boys to the CVS where Clark was registered with an appointment. Sky babbled during the 15-minute drive, “Nothing to worry about,” and “You’ll hardly feel a thing.” And, “just move your arm around afterwards so it won’t be too sore.”

Clark gulped: “Will you make funny faces or something when the nurse pokes in the needle?”

Sky gave a grin and a thumbs up.

At the vaccine desk, Clark gave his name, answered a few questions, and the pharmacist came out with a needle and a smile, leading us to a half-walled alcove. Sky jabbered the entire way, “this will be easy!”

Once Clark sat down and the pharmacist readied the needle, Clark and I looked around. “Sky, where are you?” Clark squeaked.

From the middle of the store we heard Sky shout, “I HATE needles!”

REALLY?

“You promised to make funny faces!” Clark, 12 suddenly turning 5, whined.

We heard Sky’s voice closer. “I’ll stand right outside here.”

Clark and I looked down, where we could see Sky’s shoes poking underneath the alcove . We both rolled our eyes at each other.

vaccinations for 12 year olds“Done!” the pharmacist said.

“Already?!” Clark asked as if disappointed.

Sky poked his head in. “See? Easy peasy.”

135 thoughts on “Just Needling You”

  7. Thanks for the early morning giggle. How wonderful that the cousins could spend time together. I’m glad they are finally protecting the children too. Sky did manage to distract his cousin even without the funny faces.

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    • Early morning giggles are the best. I am writing to you now early on Saturday morning watching the birds frolic at the birdfeeder and the squirrels jabber at each other. I wonder if birds and squirrels giggle? Yes I am so relieved that at least the kids 12 and over can be protected. And besides needle fear, I have not heard any of the kids complain about being vaccinated! 👍

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    • Yes exactly – that’s why I think there was courage on both sides. You’d think Sky would not have offered to come knowing how much he hates needles and yet he tried to “be there” for his cousin. And the other one kept a strong face of fortitude. 😛

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    • I had such a fabulous time with them even though they beat me in Monopoly! And I took Clark for his second vaccination shot last week and it was even easier peezier. 🤩

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    • These boys are naturals in front of the camera! This day and age children are used to having phones placed in front of them, hearing “smile!” But I’ll tell you, these two boys were smiling ear to ear the entire week they were together. 😁

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  21. Haha… putting up a brave face is half-way to fighting fears Pam. We need to respect those fears. Only experiences help them dispel. Sounds like you had a wonderful time with your grandkids. Stay blessed.

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    • You always say things that are so “right on.” I haven’t heard the expression “putting on a brave face” in a long time but that is exactly what happened here with both boys in their own ways. They gave us a big lesson didn’t they?

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    • So compassionate of you, Patricia. And Sky is like that too. I think he was okay getting needled himself for his two vaccinations, but to see his best buddy get “needled” was a bit too much. :-0 🙂 By the way, I just bought him the e-book of The Last Fallen Star (I’m loving it myself). Many thanks for recommending it!

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    • True to form, Sky’s dad (my son) hated needles with a passion when he was a kid. He embarrassed me when at the pediatrician’s for his shots – screaming! I’m not sure he’s much better as an adult :-0 but he IS totally vaccinated. 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting, Joan. Hope you’re having a terrific summer.

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    • Haha. But as someone else noted, we’re getting tired of seeing all those needles going into all those arms in the T.V. news. Most everyone just wants to look away. 🙂

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  31. I relate to the fear of needles. I always turn away! Great story and how fun you got both grandchildren together! Both for them and no doubt for you! I’m glad it ended well… I was a bit worried about how the story would unfold. After I got my vaccine I had really awful side effects for over a week . Whew! Glad the boys were ok!

    Peta

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    • I’m so sorry to hear you had bad side effects – for over a week. That’s a long time! My guy was down and out (and I mean really out) for a day. Me? Not so much. The 12-year-olds I know who have received their vaccinations have had little side effects. Most everything is easier on the young!

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    • You’re so right, Arlene. Pandemic memories can be sad and horrific (my mom, my grandkids’ great-grandmother, died from Covid,) but I like adding some levity to those memories, and this one will give them something to chuckle about their entire lives.

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  33. The thing about conquering fears is that it builds more confidence when something else hard comes along that we don’t really want to do.

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    • So true Pete. I had to laugh because Sky’s father, my son, had a horror of needles during his entire childhood. His screams would embarrass me when the doctor gave him his booster shots. He is a risk taker now and full of confidence, but I think he asks his wife to take their children in for their shots. 😏

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  36. I’m with Sky. I don’t mind shots. I mean, they’re a part of life, aren’t they? When we moved to the Philippines, we had to get typhoid and yellow fever vaccinations, and I think there was one other. Then we had to go back every year or two for boosters. We had 3 little girls, and some of the shots were painful, so it was hard to watch them get jabbed. Personally, I’m okay with shots, but I don’t like watching the needle go in. I’m sure I’m not the only one. So why do they keep showing closeups of vaccinations on TV as a way to encourage us?

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    • Good question. Several people have emailed me that they totally believe in vaccinations and wish more people would get vaccinated but they wish they would stop showing the photos on TV of the needle going into arms. 😳😉 Sounds to me like you had three very brave young girls. 💜

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  37. Great story, Pam. Your two grandsons definitely look like cousins. How great that they got to spend time together. I love the Monopoly board in the picture. That’s a well-used game at our house!

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  39. Pingback: The week gone by — July 25 – A Silly Place

    • I’m so glad my grandkids’ parents (our son and our daughter) made sure their children were vaccinated the day after their 12th birthdays (so far, 3 vaccinated grandchildren). Makes us all feel safer for them and for us. Perhaps they should be “poster children” for TV ads. ❤ (You can hear the byline now – "Despite intense fear and trepidation, these 12-year-olds sat stoically for their shot!") 🙂 🙂

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    • So happy to hear you’re soon to get vaccinated, Robbie. Yes, here in the U.S. children 12 and over can get vaccinated. So three of my six grandkids have been “needled.” They had no side effects and truth be told, they were so relieved to have this protection.

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  55. I recall the story about your grandson flying to visit you and your husband, Pam. Ha, ha, Clark and Sky communicating. Sometimes words and a brave face still hide the fear of needles. We had our 5 year old getting her kindergarten shots with a great deal of advice from her 7 year old sister. The 7 year old demo’d how it would feel and pinched her arm, slightly. All’s well that ends well. Thank you for my smile. 😀

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    • These two grandsons (and cousins) were entertaining all week long – two funny 12-year-old boys. Love this age. And yes, siblings (and cousins) are a fount of information for each other, as the two sisters prove…. 🙂

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  56. What a brave lad going on a plane like that at just 12.

    My daughters flew over to the UK to see me on their own 4 years ago when aged just 13 and 17. My 17 year old was very shy, but her younger sister being more confident asked people if they got stuck. I had given them a “very” detailed document on what to do at each airport and on the plane. They did really well, I am so proud of them.

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