We’ve spent a lot of time in doctors’ offices lately. A chiropractor who does many things other than spine adjustments to treat his patients has discovered and helped many of our family health problems. My wife Tristi was in a wreck that totaled both the semi truck and the Hyundai her friend drove. So we’re experienced with both getting well, and getting vehicles off crowded, icy roads.
Visits to doctors’ offices are usually done by the children’s mother. As our family roles change, or as semis are taken out by Hyundais, fathers also get to bring their children to visit health professionals. This can be kind of hazardous, because we often don’t communicate what we and our children need to our better halves, even when we take our spouses with us. In spite of our efforts to get vehicles off the road, there seems to be lots of vehicles when I drive. So, when we’re not used to doing it, what do we as fathers need to be concerned with when we bring our wives and children to visit doctors?
The first concern is, how sick are our family members? Why do we want to take them to visit a professional? What are we prepared to pay and to do in order to get them well? The second and related concern, is, if we are concerned with preventing bad health, what have we as fathers done to help keep our family healthy? Are we giving them junk foods because we’re tired and brain-dead at the end of a long day, or have we made efforts to give them enough protein, vegetables, and nutrition that will help build immunity, strength, endurance, and mood control?
Once we’ve decided to take them to a professional, how are we going to understand and communicate the results to our wives? Are we going to have a part in following up whether or not the child takes the necessary medicines, diet, and exercises? If we don’t have a good memory, how are we going to remind ourselves of everything needed?
As a spouse who supports his wife in these efforts, I’m taking a notebook with me to jot down what the doctors tell me, so I have something useful to give to my wife. And, I’m going to be doing my best to ensure her truck-removal career is as limited as possible.
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