Down to the wire

In two days, M goes back to school.

Where did the summer go?  I know we lost a fair amount of time to illness and recovery, but still . . . it seems like three months flew by.

The past few days we have rushed around getting stuff for her bedroom and the common areas of the apartment.  We've also shopped for personal supplies, running shoes, and squeezed in a few last minute eye and dentist appointments.

About an hour ago M came into the family room and showed me her retainer.  She said it had fallen out of her mouth while she was sleeping one night this week.  Apparently she rolled over and slept on it for most of the night.  The retainer isn't broken, but it is bent enough that it doesn't fit properly.

I want to scream!  When M first came home I told her it was her responsibility to schedule appointments with the orthodontist and gynecologist.  She's old enough to make her own appointments and I wanted her to take ownership of this aspect of her health care.  I encouraged her to complete everything before she started work so she wouldn't have to juggle appointments with her unpredictable hours at JoAnn's.

But did she?  NO. NO. NO.

So now she has a wonky retainer and her only hope of seeing the orthodontist is if he can squeeze her in somehow tomorrow --  his office is closed on Fridays.  Good luck with that.

I hate to be a nag.  I reminded M several times that she needed to call for an appointment.  She actually was supposed to have seen the orthodontist at Christmas, but again, she didn't schedule an appointment.  If she isn't able to be seen tomorrow, her next chance might be at Thanksgiving, but maybe not until Christmas.  A year is a long time to go between appointments, even in the maintenance phase, but by the time the holidays roll around, it will be 18 months since her last appointment. 

I am so angry.  M had plenty of time to go shopping and spend time with friends, work and sleep 12 hours a day, but she didn't have enough time to see the orthodontist.  We spent a lot of money to give her straight teeth and a smile she could feel good about, but if she doesn't do her part, it will be money wasted.  : /

Like so many things, I guess it's my fault.

I should have nagged more.