Yesterday our 3-year-old had a small procedure done at the hospital, and like any parent I had a lot of emotions leading up to it. Especially knowing he’d be going under anesthesia. It was one of those moments where I knew I had to be calm and confident for him even though my nerves were secretly all over the place.
We decided to prep him as gently as we could. A huge help? Daniel Tiger. The episode where he visits the hospital to get his ears fixed was an absolute game changer. It walked through the experience step by step in a way that was both simple and comforting for a little kid. Our toddler watched the episode a few times over the course of a few days and it really helped him understand what to expect.
If there’s anything I’ve learned being in Pre K, it’s that you really need to prep kids when something new is going to happen or there’s going to be a change in their routine. And him going to the hospital was a huge deal for him. Like any kid, the doctors is not his favorite place to be and neither is the dentist.
And for the parents, if you’re anything like me, the thought of your little one going under anesthesia might feel heavy. It’s completely normal to be nervous! I don’t care what previous generations have told us, we’re allowed to have big emotions too. This is your baby, and handing them over even for a short time is one of the hardest things a parent can do.
The morning of the procedure was tough for me (and the night before), but once we got to pre-op, I felt a little more relaxed. I recognized the anesthesia assistant, she had been in the room with me during my emergency c-section last year. Seeing a familiar face brought me a lot of comfort in the middle of all the stress.
It also helped knowing that all the nurses and surgical staff work alongside my mom every day in the operating room. She wasn’t scheduled to be there, and she wouldn’t have been allowed to work on his case anyway, but just knowing these were her trusted coworkers made me feel almost like it was family working on him and taking care of him.
And the best news? The procedure went well. He did amazing, and I survived my anxiety.. something I wasn’t entirely sure how well I’d manage. As I’m writing this it’s the next morning. He’s recovering well, acting almost like his normal crazy self, and should be feeling 100% in no time.
If you’re going through something similar, take comfort in knowing that pediatric anesthesiologists are specially trained to care for littles. They’ll monitor your child closely every single second. These teams do this every day, and their ultimate goal is to keep your child safe and comfortable. You’re doing an incredible job by prepping your child with love, honesty, and reassurance. And you’re allowed to feel emotional. Just remember, you won’t be alone and neither will your child. I survived the anxiety and you will too. 💛
