The Dentist, the Parent and the Battle of Evermore

I went to the dentist today for the first time in a year or so. I had blogged about my bad experience with the last dentist, where I ended up complaining to the Better Business Bureau (which ended up siding with the dentist). That dentist told me I had periodontal disease, 17 cavities and basically had a whole list of things that needed to be done.

After enough time went by so that my anger at the dental industry was about over, I went to this new dentist today. He looked in my mouth and said, "It all looks good. I don't see any cavities or signs of gum disease." (And I had NOT told him about my experience with the previous dentist).

It made me so mad at the first dentist all over again. He is scamming people out of unnecessary work. And of course the BBB which is a business itself, will favor the business over the consumer. It's frustrating. There should be a way for customers to protect ourselves from unscrupulous businesses. But who can go to multiple dentists for second opinions? I don't know of any insurance who would allow that.

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Kristin had a playdate a few weeks back, and then went to the girl's birthday party. At the party, the mom talked about their church. Since I'm a gay parent, I never know if it is subtlety letting us know of their religious beliefs, or if it is simply something they would talk about with anybody.

Well, I called their house almost two weeks ago to arrange another playdate, and left a message. I have had no return call. That tells me what I need to know, doesn't it? It's sad because they are classmates and good friends, but apparently it will only be in the classroom.

I know when you are at this age, friendships come and go alot, based on parents schedules and things out of the kids control, but it is dismaying to see the children punished because of the intolerance of the parent.

Thankfully, Kristin has another playmate who now comes home with us every day after school and so isn't really aware of what's possibly happened.

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Speaking of which, we are on day 3 of this arrangement and the fighting has been fierce. While working in the kitchen I can hear from her bedroom, "I hate you!" "You're not coming to my birthday party!" "You always have to have it your way!" "Don't touch that!"

I go in there and try to mediate during the more heated moments, and have even had to separate them for awhile. To a large degree, they should try to work it out and not always have someone intervene, but sometimes it gets out of hand. Right now, they are playing with the Polly Pocket Hot Wheels track, except the Polly Pocket Hot Wheels cars are somewhere in Kristin's room and neither one of them wants to be the one to 'break down' and go find them, so they are just sort of running their fingers along the track.