Compare and Contrast

While I don't believe in comparing children when it comes to milestones, academics, achievements, etc, I do think it is interesting to compare certain personality differences in my children. For example, let's compare the two when it comes to ear infections.

Claire: When bothered by an ear ache there is no one in a 10 mile radius who isn't aware of the fact that she is in pain. She screams and cries, often flinging herself about. She drives nurses out of the ER room until she has screamed her screams out or until some type of medicine kicks in. Doctors ask nurses to come back in (who are now sporting ear plugs) to pin Claire down so they can look in her ears because being touched in general bothers her when her ears hurt. Then they quickly depart sending a nurse back in to hand us presriptions for numbing drops and antibiotics. Then we return to our car, where all glass has been shattered by the piercing screams, and head for the pharmacy where I notice we get our prescription filled rather quickly.
Then we get home and while my head is about to explode, Claire runs to greet daddy and dances about. When asked, "How are you Claire?" She responds while twirling around, "Just fine Daddy, I got some stickers!"

Jeremiah: When bothered by an ear ache, no one knows. He rarely says anything. In fact some times we're at the doctor's office because something seems off, and we're told he has a double ear infection, one of which has already burst. You don't want to be the doctor who asks, "Why didn't you bring him in sooner?" because it offends me. I get defensive and say, "Well, because look. He's climbing into all your cabinets, pulling plastic gloves out of the container, and running around. Does he look like a child who has a double ear infection? My other child communicates with me when her ears hurt, he doesn't say anything." Once in awhile you'll get a casual, "Oh by the way Mommy, this ear hurts a tiny bit." Translation: "My ear drums are probably about to burst again, so maybe we should head to the doctor." Thankfully our new pediatrician has seen this enough now to just laugh. Like yesterday, when asked about his ear, he said, "It hurts a tiny bit." Then the doctor looks and says, "Yikes! There is nothing subtle about that ear infection!" Then he chuckles and says, "I can't believe he just sits there like he's not in pain. Not very common."

So you see, I have 2 very different children when it comes to ear aches. I don't prefer one way over the other, there are advantages and disadvantages to both, but I do find it very fascinating.