Cletus- Taking Alabama A Little Too Seriously

 The day before school starts for my 9th grader, you and dad head to Boy Scouts. At 8:30pm I get the dreadful text that you had knocked your teeth out on a boy's hard head. On a quick phone call I hear you screaming and crying. Torture to a mom's ears. My bath and relaxation no longer enjoyable. I spent the rest of the night hunting for emergency dentists and coming up short. Turns out, when you don't have dental insurance yet nor a dentist who has already been paid for services for previous visits, you are ... screwed.

Luckily, I gathered intel from my newly made friends at High School Orientation. With a few texts, a new friend, had me on a three-way call with her dentist at 9:30pm. When the tooth is lost or swallowed, well, they can't help you until the next business day. But at least someone was willing to listen. Shannon took you to the ER and CT'd the jaw, which was fine. At 1:30am you came home, toothless and exhausted.

My main concern was that you would be missing teeth on the first day of his new school. The following day we saw the dentist and he was incredible. You have severe anxiety with needles. The dentist talked you through every step and used humor to guide you through the process. Several hours later we had a wire shaped over his front teeth in the hopes that that would hold the other loose teeth to be healed so a fake tooth could be implanted. A huge ask of a 14-year-old to chew carefully and slowly only soft foods and to not play games or be rambunctious. But needless to say, to heal, we will do our best.

Halloween 2022 Cletus and Brandine from the Simpsons

I had all these plans for you to use a mask as if the risks of COVID bothered you, as a sneaky way to cover this jack-o-lantern smile. Yet, you have always amazed me with your confidence. You walked into school that first day like you had the coolest story in the world that would make you unforgettable, sans mask. And let's be honest, we are in Alabama, a missing tooth is definitely not the end of the world. The end of the day report was, "Mom, nobody even cared."

The following day, the dental office called to see how your first day of school was and how he was doing, saying they had thought of you all day. Be still my heart. A medical practice actually showing empathy.

I am so grateful for all of our blessings, but most importantly for the blessing of the people that God places on our path. Even the meetings that seem insignificant can be the answers to your prayers. Always keep your eyes, ears, and hearts open. You never know when God is answering your unspoken prayers.