Some friends of ours had a bit of a nightmare this week.
Their one year old, baby C, was due for her MMR immunisation. When they were sent the appointment, they realised to their horror that it was possible that the ‘jabber’ might be evil Nurse Maureen whose ham fisted, ‘treat the kid like a piece of meat approach’ had left them upset and angry at little baby C’s last visit.
So, Mr T, (That is not his name, but isn’t that a cool image to have in your head? Mr T, with all his jewelry and his weird denim shorts and waistcoat, carrying in one hand a teeny tiny baby, and in the other a Mamas and Papas floral Kiddie bag, visiting the Health Centre to get baby T’s vaccines up to date?)
Cough, where was I??
Oh yes, so, Mr T decided to take matters into his own (be-ringed) hands, and made the following phone call to the Doctors.
As they say on the telly, these are his words…
‘I rang the doctors – Got the name of the person who was doing the jabs and yes it was Maureen, the one who had all the delicacy of a blind butcher.
I called back later to change the appointment – the lady asked why, so I said “because Glenda is a lovely nurse who treated our daughter with kindness and Maureen is a butcher who stabbed at her as if she was wearing boxing gloves”.
The line went quiet.
The lady sighed, angrily.
“Your appointment is changed, you’re now with Glenda, tomorrow at 4.30.”
“Thank you.” I said, “Can I take your name please?”
“Yes” said the lady. “I’m Maureen”.’
Isn’t that so bad and yet so good?
I mean, for a moment the words, “Oh sh*t definitely went through Mr T’s head, but mainly he was so glad that Maureen the grumpy old harridan was made aware of how she was viewed.
And also, let’s face it, the evil old tart might actually change her unpleasant ways and deal a little more kindly with her next small customer.
I read Mr T’s email and thought, “Noooooooo.” But then, “Yessss.” Because I rarely say what I think. If someone treats us badly I tend to be very forgiving and apologetic and British, then go over and over the scene later on in my head, with little additions where I kick butt, throw witty and humorous insults at them, and flick bogeys into their coffee.
What do you think?
Would you have been mortified?
Would you be crossing your fingers that you don’t need a jab in the bottom any time soon?
Or would you be secretly glad that you said something that normally you would have never have said to someone, even though you felt it and you wish you had?
Oh, and on the doctor front, I didn’t get in, but I’ll keep trying to get an appointment next week. I’, a bit of a mess as I’m not sleeping, even though I’m really trying to go to bed at reasonable times. I definitely need some kind of hormonal boost (sorry boys), and I feel kind of detached and a bit low. I’m okay, and lots of people are looking out for me, but you know when you’ve dealt with the ‘D’ word before that sometimes you walk a fine line and you kind of need to look after yourself. So that’s why I’m behind in my reading at the moment. I will have some time tomorrow though, as Mr B is out, so I have the PC all to myself tomorrow night.
The precious…
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April 11th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I think it’s reasonable that people pick nurses who they feel more comfortable with. It doesn’t bother me when people do that to me.
Saying that, I’m not a butcher of baby’s arms.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
i just checked your blog awhile ago. nothing. how can i be so quick and not be first? i think dan’s stalking you. dan! stop stalking jo!
i love love love when people get their comeuppance. when it’s due. well, i suppose if you have one coming, it’s always due. no one goes “they really should get a smackdown, but not just yet….”
goooooood one.
can we please go back in time and tell the doctor who told me i was a fattie to shut up? she was not a thinnie!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Good for him. I’m slowly learning to speak my mind and speak up for myself. I’m much better at speaking up for my kids, though.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
hmmmmm I am sort of torn on this one. I would be mortified that I said it so harshly, but glad that she might now know how she is coming across.
I do hope you start feeling better soon. I’m thinking of you my dear.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I am glad that she found out how people see her. Perhaps she will reflect on how her practice is being interpreted by people now.
OHMYGOD, if it were me…
Lovely blog Jo.
Bx
April 12th, 2008 at 1:08 am
I think I would have been mortified and waited for the ground to swallow me up whole!!
But it’s a good thing she now knows!
Sending you {hugs}
April 12th, 2008 at 2:53 am
I cheered! Honesty is the best policy, especially when you don’t know who you’re talking to!
April 12th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Way to go, Mr T! High fives all round!
April 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
That is so, so brilliant! Way to go Mr. T!
Hope your lows abate soonly…~hugs~
April 12th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
good for him for speaking his mind! I would have been embaressed but would have gotten over that quickly!!
I was just thinking about something stupid I said during last months LFoM. We were talking about the process of picking a name for our babies and I mentioned that I liked Francesca but Wal thought it was too ethnic. Ooops I had forgotten (OK so maybe it was the bottle of wine I had consumed added to the fact that I had given blood that day) that my friend had named her daughter Francesca!! I only meant that when added to Squidge’s middle name and my last name it was waaaaaay to ethnic. Francesca Inês deMelo Dadsname – see too ethnic!!
April 12th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
OK I don’t know why I felt the need to mention all that- probably because I’m feeling really stupid about saying it!
April 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Dan, I can’t imagine you as a butcher of anybody’s arms. And you’re right, it’s good to choose if you have a really strong preference.
Holl my lovely, I am so with you. A doctor told my mum was I was younger that I was a little heavy for my age, but I’ve seen photos, I was fine. If I meet that doctor who said that to you Holl, I will part his hair on the wrong side and cut his toenails really short. That’ll teach him.
Lori, I’m more likely to speak upo for my kids than myself, but I;’m getting better.
Corey, me too. But maybe she’ll improve. I bet she’s glad she took the phonecall rather than a colleague though. And thanks for the hugs. x
Dilwich Mum thank you my sweet. And I’m the same. Hooray, but thank God it wasn’t me.
Dumdad, that’s what Mr B said.
Kim, thanks hon. x
Lindy, I know what you mean. I’ve done that before and you feel so bad, even though you meant nothing by it. I bet your friend understood though.