We're in the midst of a giant weather pattern that's bringing freezing temps, ice and snow across the country. Yikes!
And though my anxiety gets a little high during these kinds of events (for obvious reasons, please see this historic post: https://delappenings.blogspot.com/search?q=water+disaster), our crew is desperately in need of some down time together--any way we can get it.
Some down time also means some catch-up posting time, so...let's begin with a really glorious and momentous event from this past week: Chica's braces removal! At long last!
My girl is FREE!
Better still, let's have some fun picture perspective, shall we???
So, heeeere she is in August 2023, on the day her braces went on, and then 30 months later, in January 2026 when she finally got them off!
I mean...I die. That growth and aging from brand new eleven-year-old to almost fourteen-year-old...man. Such an incredible era of change.
It kind of hurts me that my beautiful eldest has already shed one of the hallmarks of those middling kid years and is barreling onward, into the hefty teen years. With High School fast approaching, driving not far behind, and so many other moments and milestones in between, it's hard not to get a little nostalgic and unsettled by change...
And I'm not the only one!
In the weeks leading up to her braces removal, Chica was admittedly a bit nervous. Totally natural, I think. My girl was in braces for so long, in an expander before that, and she braved two oral surgeries to get through her orthodontic experience.
I can totally empathize with the anxiety of change--even good change like this!
I think Chica's concerns were three-fold:
1. What if her teeth weren't ready and the orthodontist was wrong? (We have an incredible, experienced orthodontist who did not rush her journey.)
2. What if she looked worse with them off? (Not even remotely plausible.)
3. What if she just freaked out over the visual difference (Well...change is hard, I guess.)
As it turns out, the last concern was the one that hit hard.
My poor girl barely made it out of the appointment without bursting into tears and it took her an hour or two to really come to terms with the momentous change.
And I get it. I really do!
This kind of monumental, visual shift can throw any person (let alone a middle school-age teenager) into a bit of a vulnerable place.
Luckily, I'd kind of anticipated the possibility and the hubby and I had cleared our schedule for a fun, celebratory lunch to boost Chica's spirits, let her settle into the new and different, and get her to a place of JOY over it all (remember my JOY motto for 2026???).
Thankfully, the joy definitely came--in the form of gum and Starbursts and the cake that the orthodontist actually gifted! Oh! And some very valuable life affirmations from Taylor Swift, herself. ;) I was prepared to spark those happy emotions--through gifts and bribery, if need be! ;)
By the time mid-afternoon rolled around, my girl was content to head outside to take a few celebratory pictures. : ) Then she attended a school event later that evening and was able to rip off the bandage (in terms of her friends seeing the new version of her smile) before a full school day. And within 24 hours or so, all was eventually right in the world.
I think even Chica herself (who sometime reads the blog, now; helloooo my beautiful firstborn!) would be comfortable with me sharing her entire journey regarding this milestone.
I think it's important to normalize the emotions and physical manifestations of concern or anxiety that come with all sorts of life events--and most especially, with life events that involve major change. Eustress (a "positive stress") is still stress, after all! And we're all just human.
I'm proud of my girl for working through her ups and downs regarding this milestone, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be able to take care of her oral health, facilitate a lifelong, happy smile, and to see her visually morph into an even-more-fully-formed mini adult, tehe.
Now, as for my other kiddos: Chicklet's braces experience is barreling right along. In fact, she's about to start the rubber band era of the whole experience. A toughie one, of course!
And as for Little Man: I most definitely told the orthodontist we must spin off the first kid before the third begins, so maybe I'll just give myself until Summer before his official orthodontic consult.
Okay, peeps.
More catch-up posts coming soon!
Until then, I hope everyone is staying safe and warm!
Over and out.
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