Here’s something I find to be absolutely delightful, living in England. The National Health Service (NHS) offers vaccinations in school for children. I was never vaccinated in school in the U.S. though both of my parents were and, for some odd reason, my sisters? Anyway, I used to jokingly wish the U.S. would bring back school vaccinations because my children are absolute menaces when it comes to needles.

Before anyone accuses me of being cold-hearted and not wanting to be there for my children, I absolutely mean it when I say that my children are menaces when it comes to needles. For nearly 13 years, I have held down children who can muster the strength of two million men in their determination to not let a needle come near their skin. I have chased children through parking lots and around waiting rooms in an effort just to get them in the room.

I have warned nurses of the battle they face, only for said nurses to be reduced to tears because they could not believe how such a small, precious child could turn into a raging beast. Many times, my warnings have gone unheeded though reinforcements are quickly called upon once it becomes clear it’s more than a one-man job. I have walked out of a doctor’s office looking like a crime scene in an attempt to do a finger prick blood draw.

Over the years I have tried all manner of bribery to get the girls to overcome their fear of needles: Starbucks Frappuccino’s for life, a trip to the toy store to buy all of the toys, a puppy, a kitten, a pony, the Hope Diamond, their own house…all for naught. Tablet and smart phones have been downloaded with games and movies and TV shows. I’ve driven between the clinic and my house multiple times to retrieve special lovies that may help calm a child down (they did not).

So, for me to be grateful that the children can be vaccinated while at school is not being cold-hearted, it’s being relieved. With that said, I’m not completely callous and I do hope that my girls are able to get through the ordeal with a brave face. As adults, I hope they can overcome their fears though they’ll certainly have a lot to speak about when they’re in therapy as adults. For me, I’ll just have to live with the parental trauma they have inflicted.