At the Pediatrician's

Unexpected sickness;
Kids were home from school.
Took them to the doctor;
That’s the current rule.

Crayons in the waiting room;
Coloring and calm.
Cartoons in the background
Acting like a toddler balm.

Called into the office;
Temps and check the ears.
Waiting for the shoe to drop –
Hysteria and tears.

Strep swab does in Henry;
Flu shot’s Hadley’s bane.
Hard to hold them down and watch
Their terror and their pain.

Over in a minute –
Home for soup and rest.
Not the day we’d planned on
As you might have likely guessed.

Still, it’s part and parcel
Of our babysitting days,
Though doctor’s visits make me think
That we deserve a raise!