Equalizers

My mother is in need of some extensive dental work. Last week, I took her to our regular dentist who took X-rays, explained the problem, and referred her to a specialist to be evaluated for implants. Her appointment with the specialist was this morning. My father came down to keep the children so I could take her.

As we were finishing up with the specialist, he called our dentist to explain how he was going to proceed. Our dentist suggested that since we were in the area to have us come by his office and he'd do an imprint for a temporary plate for Mom while her mouth is healing. We buzzed right over to her dentist's office and they took us right in.

As we were leaving his office, my sister showed up. She's a realtor and our dentist had called her and asked her to sell some property for him. We were tickled to see her and Mom decided we should have lunch together.

I felt bad about abandoning my father with the children, so we called to check it out with him. Daelyn answered the phone.

"Jesus loves you," he crooned in that sweet, 5-yr. old voice.

"Hi, baby. Is Grandpa there?"

"HI, MAMA!" he shouted, with great excitement in his voice, as if I'd been gone for 3 or 4 weeks.

"Hi, honey. Is Grandpa there?" I repeated.

"He's in the bathroom right now. Do you want to talk to Donovan."

"No, honey, I don't want to talk to the dog." I could hear my mother and sister laughing, then Mom repeating the situation to the office help.

"Just go stand outside the bathroom door, don't go in, and tell Grandpa that Grandma and I are on the phone and we need to speak to him."

I could hear Daelyn walking down the hall, then I hear him calling to my father.

"Grandpa?"

"What!" rather gruffly in response.

"Mama's on the phone and she says she needs to speak to you."

"Well, I can't do anything about that right now. Tell her she'll have to wait." I suppose Grandpa's not too accustomed to little boys disturbing him at such a sensitive time with a phone call.

"Okay, Mama, Grandpa said you'll have to wait, so I'm putting the phone to Donovan's ear. Say hello."

"No, Daelyn . . . hello, Donovan," as I realize he can't hear me because he's already put the phone to the dog's ear and is yelling for me to speak to our pet.

Mom and Toni crack up. So much for handling the phone call in a business-like manner.

Children are a great equalizer. My friend who had her baby last week told me that, while she was pushing, her doctor's beeper went off. Her doctor, who is a woman, asked the nurse to check it for her as she was a little busy.

"You daughter wants to know what chores she needs to do before you get home from work," the nurse reported.

I guess even doctors have children to topple their hopes of professionalism.

Ah, children. Thank you, Lord, for giving me a constant reminder of my own insignificance and for not allowing me to take myself too seriously.