Moments of Clarity

As parents you have moments of clarity, realization, the old "hind sight is 20/20", yes I vowed in my "younger days" to not use the phrase but alias it fits! My latest series concerns Layton and his new glasses!

Back story: Our Family Dr. recommends getting a baseline eye exam at 1 year, our Eye Dr. does free eye exams until kids are 4....well, Julia needed her 1 year, as did Layton (and his 2 year, and 3 year, get the picture, bad parent we never did his first one, oh and his 4th birthday is looming!) sooooooooooo. I made an appoiment for both kiddos, called and 4 days later we are on the way.

Ok, mind you......Layton can identify a John Deere, Case, Gleaner, any farm equipment 2-5 miles away with wonderful clarity so we thought, he's good, Julia is good, we will breeze through the exams and be on our way to Ice Cream...hold the music....

The kids loved the Eye Dr. The Eye Dr. was wonderful with the kids playing games, giggling, letting them try the various tools and patches out...good experience, I'm still thinking we are home safe......then I notice Layton is back in the chair for round 2 and the Dr is asking about his behavior (doesn't like to sit still, doesn't like to color, doesn't like to work up close....affirmative to all of those, he's three though, toddlers are active)....The lightbulb is slowwwwwly coming on...he is far sighted and doesn't like to work up close because his eyes hurt..Ah Ha #1.

Fast forward one week (through Christmas) and we are back. Layton is a trooper, gets his glasses and is excited. Until we get to the car, we go through 30 minutes of denial and dislike, discuss who all has glasses, make a pact to gradually increase wearing them to a full day. Tears disappear. Next day, he put them on and wore them the full day, he loves them and is uber responsible!

Ah Ha Moments we feel silly for not catching earlier (poor guy, who knows how long his eyes have hurt and he didn't know)
#2. We have always helped hook his equipment up to his tractors (no longer needs our help)
#3. On the IPAD, was always off one side or the other of the target slightly (dead center now)
#4. Plays for hours with his car now (used to be 10 minutes max)
#5. Likes to draw, color, and put stickers on stuff...he asked to write thank you notes for Christmas gift.
#6. Will sit and look at a book, magazine, puzzle for 15+ minutes (used to be 5 max and never would finish a puzzle)
#7. He is much quieter, calmer, more mature almost 4 year old, who continues to melt my heart.