I took my son to the doctor this morning to deal with an ear infection and had such a nice time that I couldn’t help but share the story with you. It is a short tale of observation, consideration and reciprocation that begins with our family pediatrician, a man who is arguably one of the kindest and most empathetic in the business.
As soon as the doctor entered the room he sought to connect with my son. Crouching down to get eye to eye with my son he did everything he could to be non-threatening, if not downright inviting. He didn’t talk over his head, he kept his own countenance bright and encouraging even though I could tell from the waiting room that he had a long day ahead of him.
When he asked questions he waited to hear the answers. He asked purposeful questions that didn’t overwhelm but felt like small talk. He joked while he poked, inspected and assessed my son’s symptoms.
At one point he jokingly asked my son about moving his ear to his eyeball and his eyeball to his ear, much to my son’s delight. The doctor asked “do you think I can get eyeballs at Walmart?” My son said no way, and added that he would look for them when he was shopping. At the end of the appointment my son whispered in my ear “Daddy, he is the best doctor in the world.”
We left with a prescription, a toy and a smile. It felt more like a trip to Disneyland than to a doctor’s office. And I thought to myself, why shouldn’t every visit to the doctor progress as smoothly? We stopped at the drugstore to pick up his medicine and lo and behold my son discovered a bag full of bouncing eyeballs in the Halloween aisle! He begged me to buy them for the doctor.
As we pulled into the driveway my son asked, “Daddy, why did the doctor have a cast on his foot?” Having noticed and wondered myself I didn’t ask the doctor at the time given his likely pressing schedule so I offered: “I’m not sure. Maybe he broke a bone?” My son thought for a moment further and said: “Daddy, can we write him a note to get better soon?” I consented and we went inside.
I’ve just returned from mailing the note and a bag of bouncing eyeballs to our doctor (definitely the first time and probably the last that I will ever have such a task). I’m sure that he’ll appreciate the gesture from a five year old who was impressed by his bedside manner and I imagine that a handful of lucky children will leave his office with a new bouncy eyeball in the days to come.
Be observant, be considerate and reciprocate good deeds and success and happiness will follow!
Gregory Hake 
Love the story. Whatever our business is people are always involved, be they co-workers, patrons or suppliers and that should be the gift. Meaningful exchange is the electricity that makes all our lights shine. Thanks for a sweet moment.
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Meaningful exchange implies the mutual recognition of value. I could tell that both my five year old and our pediatrician value one another highly!
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Fabulous! This kind of doctor can’t be beat. Your sounds like a wonderful young man, we need more like him. Too many children nowadays are far too self absorbed and never think about other people.
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Why do you think that children are so self-absorbed nowadays, Linda? I feel that it is right and natural to start that way, but the problem comes when they are not given the tools or the surround necessary to emerge gracefully form that state into one characterized by a greater awareness and care for the world around them.
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I love that this experience was a wonderful one for your son.
Doctors visits for so many young children have come to be scary and a huge task for parents, it sounds like this doctor was amazing and you allowed your child to learn the gift of reciprocating.
Thanks for sharing!
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He did us a big favor, for sure! We need more doctors, teachers and caregivers like him!
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Delightful story!
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I know, right!?!
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It’s nice to hear a story like this in a situation that does not always turn out that way. It just goes to show that there is so much potential for an individual to shape their life experience for the better, and it almost always involves helping someone else. I really like how you followed through with the process all the way to the mailbox. Your son will never forget it, and the doctor will see that the way he interacts with children really makes an impact.
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We’ll see how the note and gift was received when we visit next time (which is hopefully is a long way off).
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I love the simple joy and thoughtfulness conveyed in your story. It is unfortunate to be caught up in a different idea of what success and happiness amount to and the disbelief that they are not possible by the means you are outlining. Thanks for the reminder!
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Sometimes the simplest gestures are the most inspiring and compelling!
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Bravo Gregg!! That’s a great way to keep things new in life! I think seeing the sweetness in people through the eyes of a child is a great reminder of what we miss all the time because we are so busy or just jaded and waiting for that other shoe to drop.
Great post and a wonderful start to my day!
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I once heard someone say upon seeing a similar wonderful exchange with another child “it’ll only be a matter of time before enough people disappoint him, making him as jaded as I am.” Yikes! It’s that kind of thinking that perpetuates the belief that Murphy’s observations were in fact a “Law.”
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Thanks for the sweet story this morning!
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Sure thing. Have a great day!
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Wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
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Anytime! Thanks for enjoying the story…
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