Just smile and nod...

[my3sonsagn]

That's what I'm doing with my MIL this week. The problem is that she retired from nursing a long time ago, but she just can't stop needing "patients" to see. Every stomach ache is appendicitis, headaches get you checked for high blood pressure, dizziness is considered low blood sugar (and thus the first sign of diabetes) unless/until proven otherwise. This week my middle son has a fever (high the first night, low grade yesterday and today), congestion and a sore throat (which he always gets with congestion, btw); last night told me she's sure he has tonsilllitis (which she found after shining a flashlight in his mouth).

I'm not asking for advice or even venting, really; I just had to share with someone because the sight of Dr. Grandma standing there with her trusty flashlight after "diagnosing" my son with tonsillitis was just hard to take with a straight face.

Now that I've said that, though, he's sure to turn out to have tonsillitis.

 

[minniecarousel]

I like that: "just smile and nod"! You're a good DIL!

 

[Wall-E1]

My mother is like this and it has turned into a big game for me and my son. We each constantly call her with concerns about moles and lumps that we have discovered on one another. We love to see each other being harassed by her. I suppose it is cruel what we do, but we are, admittingly, not good people.

 

[jjarman]

My mother is like this and it has turned into a big game for me and my son. We each constantly call her with concerns about moles and lumps that we have discovered on one another. We love to see each other being harassed by her. I suppose it is cruel what we do, but we are, admittingly, not good people.

Oh, I have to try this. My mother is a retired RN and she still feels the need to help everyone with everything. The first half of my marriage I lived 500 miles away so my older brother and his family got it. Now my younger brother is married with 2 little ones so they get it. I feel I get the best end of the deal. I love my mother. Don't get me wrong. She is so very sweet but she thinks deoderant causes breast cancer or whatever is the latest thing on the news. Problem is she never hears the retractions or where these things are disproved.

 

[Mamu]

I have a SIL whom I smile and nod at. best way to keep
peace!

 

[2binak]

My MIL is a nurse who also needs patients. DD was diagnosed by the pedi with bronchiolitis the week before Christmas. MIL swears it was H1N1 and is mad that the pedi didn't test for it. The minute DH told her that DD had a fever, she began going into the list of do's and don't's for H1N1 MIL also swears that DD had Fifth's Disease last year when it was a very clear case of Roseola. In neither instance did MIL even see DD, just went by the symptoms DH was telling her about over the phone. I agree - the nod & smile approach works very well with the Dr. Nurses.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My mother is also a retired RN but she's just the opposite. She doesn't like being asked medical questions. She's fine with basic stuff, but she doesn't want to look at throats or rashes or anything that might be gross looking. She said she's become squeamish since she retired. In fact, she can't believe she used to work in ERs and operating rooms and loved it. Nowadays she says she wouldn't be cut out for it.

My dad is the same way. He's a retired police officer. He used to see dead bodies and horrible car accidents and it didn't bother him. Now, he doesn't want to look at accidents and has no interest in police activity. If we're driving and see a bunch of police cars stopped and I say, "I wonder what's going on." He'll say, "Who cares...keep driving." I guess both of my parents have had enough!

 

[RNMOM]

Hey, you watch it there...we old nurses serve our purpose. What that is I haven't figured out yet but I'm working on it.

You are a great DIL. Keep up the smile and nod. There is a special place in heaven for those who can get along with their MIL's.

 

[Wall-E1]

Hey, you watch it there...we old nurses serve our purpose. What that is I haven't figured out yet but I'm working on it.

You are a great DIL. Keep up the smile and nod. There is a special place in heaven for those who can get along with their MIL's.

Oh my god. Is that you mom? You know I was just kidding about what I said up there? Don't you?

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

like the penguins..."Just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave...."

 

[Stacerita]

Smile and nod.....best advice ever.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Hey, you watch it there...we old nurses serve our purpose. What that is I haven't figured out yet but I'm working on it.

You are a great DIL. Keep up the smile and nod. There is a special place in heaven for those who can get along with their MIL's.

::adjusts halo::

Why, thank you!

Just kidding; she lives with us, and I am the first to admit the situation tries my nerves at times (I'm sure it does hers, too, as we are a rowdy bunch and can't be easy to live with!), but we get along great for the most part and always have. I count myself blessed to have such a great MIL, and I hope that I am as good a MIL myself someday.

As for "old" nurses... maybe they should make a Wii game for y'all. lol

 

[snowwhitesmom]

"Just smile and wave, boys, just smile and wave" -thanks for the giggle!!!!

 

[minkydog]

My mother is also a retired RN but she's just the opposite. She doesn't like being asked medical questions. She's fine with basic stuff, but she doesn't want to look at throats or rashes or anything that might be gross looking. She said she's become squeamish since she retired. In fact, she can't believe she used to work in ERs and operating rooms and loved it. Nowadays she says she wouldn't be cut out for it.

This made me smile. I'm the same way. Since I'm a peds nurse I don't particularly like it when people want to "run something by" me. I tell them if they're over 21 and 150-lbs I can't help them.

Now I don't mind looking at red throats, pink eye, chicken pox and hives. But just don't ask me to look at something bloody or gutty. I was a NICU nurse for years and I won't even tell you some of the awful stuff I saw and did there. YOu'd lose your lunch. And the older I get the worse it gets for me. I can't even watch "House" anymore!

 

[VillageMama]

Oh dear... I'm your mother in law. When I hear hoof-beats, I always think zebras.

I've "diagnosed" in my children as having juvenile diabetes, juvenile arthritis, a brain tumor and more. Happily, I was wrong about all that.

On the other hand, I totally missed a case of appendicitis that had my son admitted to the hospital for six weeks.

I'm not a nurse... just a worried mom with an Internet connection. A bad combination.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Oh dear... I'm your mother in law. When I hear hoof-beats, I always think zebras.

I've "diagnosed" in my children as having juvenile diabetes, juvenile arthritis, a brain tumor and more. Happily, I was wrong about all that.

On the other hand, I totally missed a case of appendicitis that had my son admitted to the hospital for six weeks.

I'm not a nurse... just a worried mom with an Internet connection. A bad combination.

Judging by your countdown ticker...you are going to be in for fun times in the diagnosis department!!!

hehehehe