I hear you, but how exactly do you manage to ease off without feeling like you're neglecting something important? I mean, I get the logic—kids definitely sense our anxiety—but it's easier said than done, right? My son chipped his tooth last year playing soccer (of course it had to be the front one...), and I swear I was more panicked than he was. The dentist was super chill about it, but I kept thinking: "What if there's nerve damage? What if it turns gray? What if he needs braces now?" You know, the usual spiral of doom.
Anyway, after that incident, every time he even mentions his teeth feeling weird, I'm instantly on high alert. How do you find that balance between being attentive and not hovering too much? Do you just pretend to be calm or actually feel calm? Because honestly, I'm still working on the pretending part.
Also curious—did your daughter notice when you started backing off a bit? Did she say anything about it or did things just naturally get easier without any conversation needed? Maybe kids are more resilient than we give them credit for...but still, it's hard not to worry.
Honestly, it's more "fake it till you make it" for me. I still internally panic a bit, but I've learned kids pick up on our cues. When I started backing off, my daughter didn't say anything—things just gradually felt less tense. Kids adapt quicker than we think...mostly.
"Kids adapt quicker than we think...mostly."
Totally agree with this. I've noticed that explaining step-by-step what's going to happen at the dentist beforehand helps ease my anxiety too, not just my kid's. Somehow, breaking it down makes it feel less overwhelming for both of us...mostly, lol.
"Somehow, breaking it down makes it feel less overwhelming for both of us...mostly, lol."
Haha, totally get this. I still do the same thing for myself before dental visits—step-by-step mental prep helps a ton. Kids really do surprise us though; my daughter handled an emergency tooth extraction way better than I did at her age. You're doing great by being open about your own anxiety...kids pick up on that honesty and it helps them feel safe. Hang in there!
"Kids really do surprise us though; my daughter handled an emergency tooth extraction way better than I did at her age."
That's actually pretty common, believe it or not. Kids often have fewer preconceived notions about dental procedures, so they sometimes handle these situations with surprising calmness. Adults, on the other hand, tend to build up anxiety based on past experiences or stories they've heard. I've seen plenty of parents who were visibly more nervous than their child during emergency visits—it's completely understandable.
Breaking things down into smaller steps definitely helps manage anxiety, both for kids and adults. It gives a sense of control over the situation, even if it's just mentally preparing yourself for what's next. Curious though...have you found that your own anxiety about dental visits has decreased after seeing your child handle it so well? Sometimes seeing our kids cope calmly can shift our own perspective a bit.
