For the past several months, I have heard endless complaints from Aaron about his teeth hurting and throbbing headaches. Now I'd like to think I learned a little something in the three years I spent as a dental assistant (the sad thing is it probably doesn't even take this experience to figure it out), so I told him his problems probably stem from grinding his teeth at night and I suggested a good solution might be to wear a nightguard. I don't know if any of his stress at night has been caused by me, maybe in particular the night I accidentally grabbed him by the throat after he woke me up by yelling at the intruder in his dream to "get the hell off our property!" while a second intruder came up from behind him just as I grabbed him. Other than that I doubt I cause him much stress : ).
Anyway he'd finally had it after a particularly brutal headache one day and instead of climbing in bed with me, he headed downstairs to search through his childhood and adolescent memorabilia. I wondered how he could possibly find anything in his unorganized clutter and was quite surprised when he returned to bed with his junior high retainer. I thought it a little weird that he held onto it since 7th grade, but the miraculous thing was that with a few minor tweaks it actually still fits. Now this is no ordinary retainer! I'm still trying to figure out what his orthodontist was thinking when he told him to wear it 24 hours a day because with the retainer in his teeth are about an inch apart and talking with it in makes him sound like he frequently rides the short bus. Not to mention the fact that it says, "I Love Sports!"
The awesome thing is that since wearing it his teeth no longer hurt and his headaches have subsided, but "the retainer" has put quite a dent in our nightly conversations as they go something like this:
(keep in mind that every time Aaron starts to talk, he has to take out his retainer)
Aaron: I am putting my retainer in and I'm going to sleep now.
Anica(30 seconds later): What color hair do you think the baby will have?
Aaron: (After a big slurp and taking his retainer out) Blonde? Good night.
Anica(30 seconds later): What are you going to do around the house this weekend?
Aaron: Slurp, not sure, I will tell you tomorrow. Good night.
Anica(30 seconds later):Do you think we should plan a trip to California this spring?
Aaron: Uh-Huh.
Anica: When?
Aaron: Slurp, I don't know, maybe spring? Good night.
(1 minute later) is it safe for me to put my retainer back in or are we still talking?
This retainer has brought me great joy as I no longer have to hear his complaints and I now have something to make fun of him for. Thanks for saving it Aaron!
Anyway he'd finally had it after a particularly brutal headache one day and instead of climbing in bed with me, he headed downstairs to search through his childhood and adolescent memorabilia. I wondered how he could possibly find anything in his unorganized clutter and was quite surprised when he returned to bed with his junior high retainer. I thought it a little weird that he held onto it since 7th grade, but the miraculous thing was that with a few minor tweaks it actually still fits. Now this is no ordinary retainer! I'm still trying to figure out what his orthodontist was thinking when he told him to wear it 24 hours a day because with the retainer in his teeth are about an inch apart and talking with it in makes him sound like he frequently rides the short bus. Not to mention the fact that it says, "I Love Sports!"
The awesome thing is that since wearing it his teeth no longer hurt and his headaches have subsided, but "the retainer" has put quite a dent in our nightly conversations as they go something like this:
(keep in mind that every time Aaron starts to talk, he has to take out his retainer)
Aaron: I am putting my retainer in and I'm going to sleep now.
Anica(30 seconds later): What color hair do you think the baby will have?
Aaron: (After a big slurp and taking his retainer out) Blonde? Good night.
Anica(30 seconds later): What are you going to do around the house this weekend?
Aaron: Slurp, not sure, I will tell you tomorrow. Good night.
Anica(30 seconds later):Do you think we should plan a trip to California this spring?
Aaron: Uh-Huh.
Anica: When?
Aaron: Slurp, I don't know, maybe spring? Good night.
(1 minute later) is it safe for me to put my retainer back in or are we still talking?
This retainer has brought me great joy as I no longer have to hear his complaints and I now have something to make fun of him for. Thanks for saving it Aaron!
Comments
That story was classic, Anica. Thanks for making my day!
wait.... what's that i hear????
NERD ALERT! NERD ALERT!
seriously? 'I love sports'???
i think he's even with brandon now for wearing a head gear to school in highschool!
funny he still has it... i always wanted one, so i kept my brother's old one around.... probably still have it. not that it ever fit or anything. but hey, i could say i "had" a retainer!