He was talking about the the Annual Mock Surgery Day in Austin. This is Jakob's second year to attend the event, which provides kids and visitors a chance to participate in make-believe surgical procedures. For a kid who says he plans to become a doctor later in life, putting in a tracheotomy is a great way to spend a Saturday. He's been talking about it for weeks. While I stayed at home with our 21-month-old, Jakob and Blythe went to Austin.
The event is held at Brackenridge Hospital every year, which is nice since Blythe works there. So, Jakob gets some personalized introductions to the doctors she knows. Pretty cool.
While Elliot and I played with his wooden train set, I heard the familiar chime of an incoming text message. Blythe sent a photo of Jakob looking at the camera wearing a surgical mask and a scrub cap. I beamed, wondering if his fancy for science and anatomy would stick around for the long haul. I texted back, 'Dr. Cone, paging Dr. J. Cone.'
I think it's pretty normal to have visions of my son walking the halls of a hospital in scrubs or in a white lab coat. But that's where I force myself to stop. I've watched enough cheesy CBS Afterschool Specials to understand the dangers of pressuring my kids into things they don't want to do. So, I just pretend he's enjoying a day of childhood entertainment, like going to a movie or to the zoo.I suppose all we, as parents, can really do to help our kids along is to introduce them to as much as possible. Then we support and foster their interests. It can be awfully easy to go too far. To push too hard. But that's why it's so important to watch cheesy Afterschool Specials or the Lifetime channel.
At the end of the day, I just feel lucky to have an eight-year-old son who has such a strong interest in being a doctor, even if it doesn't last. He already has me beat.
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