Let me preface this by saying that nurses are some of the coolest people on the planet. They change lives everyday— lot of times at their own expense—and still they do it all with a smile. They're a huge part of what makes the world go 'round. It's even cooler when you get to call one your mom.
But growing up with a nurse for a mother made my childhood a little different than most of my friends'...
1. You're never actually sick enough to go to the doctor.
I can count on one hand how many times I went to my pediatrician for a "sick" visit. The only way she was going to take me for a sick visit was if my limbs were falling off, basically.
2. You knew more medical terms by the time you were 10 than what the average person knows in their lifetime.
I couldn't spell "avocado" in fourth grade, but you can bet your britches I could spell "stethoscope."
3. You pretty much grew up in a hospital.
I have so many memories of sitting in my mom's desk chair and playing with all the weird nurse gadgets she had in her desk drawers. Oh, and I could've probably given you a tour of the hospital by the time I was 13.
4. Your mom was the go-to person in your family for anything medical-related.
Nana's hip is bothering her? Call Beth. Your cousin has a fever out of nowhere? Call Beth. You're throwing up and you don't know why? Call the doc—just kidding, call Beth.
5. You've heard some pretty crazy stories about the ER.
Yeah, this one doesn't really need an explanation... if your mom is a nurse, you know why.
6. "Grey's Anatomy" was a little less crazy to you.
Considering you were at the hospital all the time around doctors and surgeons and everyone in between, "Grey's" was a bit of a bore.
7. "Doctor's orders" were frequently ignored/overridden.
Several of my doctor's appointments have actually consisted of my mom telling the doctor what to do. And she was always right.
8. Everything could be cured with Ibuprofen.
Whatever I was complaining about, it was almost always met with a "take two Ibuprofen" and "you'll be fine."
9. Staying home from school because you don't feel well? Ha! Good one.
Even though I have the immune system of a champ, on the odd day I wasn't feeling too hot... I was still dropped off at school and picked right back up at the end of the day. No excuses.
10. You knew your mom is pretty much a superhero.
Even though she used to drag you to the office when she couldn't find a babysitter and frequently ignored your ailments, she was always the coolest parent at Career Day. And every other day, too.
