This morning Clair asked me how do doctors know if you
are sick with a cold or something else? I provided what I thought was a very
suitable expiration, the doctor looks at your ears and nose and throat, and
then listen to your chest to decide.
She responds with what are they looking for? At that
point I was in trouble because I knew she wanted more details than I could
really give her, so I told her that mommy wasn’t a doctor and didn’t know the
details. I told her that people go to medical school to learn this. She asked
how will I get to the nearest medical school? I explained there are some in
Washington and Baltimore which are about an hour away. She wanted to if she
could get there herself because she doesn’t know how to drive. I told her that
when she was old enough she would be able to get there herself. She asked where
their schools closer. I told her they were not but there were schools in New
York City that were really good too. She said she didn’t want to go to New York
City, she wanted to go nearby and learn to be a doctor. She asked what age do
you go to medical school.
She was really sitting there processing all of this and
thinking. This conversation went on for about five minutes before I change the
subject. I was truly amazed at the detail and thought she was putting into all
of this. She is only 4 1/2.
Later in the afternoon it came back up. She told me that
when she goes to medical school in a few years I will need to show her how to
drive there the first time and then she will be able to drive herself. But she
will come home to live with me every night.
