Little freakouts and laughs about forms
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 3:29PM I decided that I should get some paperwork ready today, like my disability forms and the information sheet for our pediatrician. Since the pediatrician doesn't participate with the hospital I'll be delivering at, we just have to call the office for an appointment after The Force and I get released.
So what's the big deal, right? Just forms. I'm 34 - I've filled out a zillion forms in my life and will have to fill out a zillion more.
Except this time, in the case of the pediatrician's form, I'm not the patient. I'm filling out the form on behalf of someone else. On behalf of my child. It was a moment to pause after I filled out my information as "person responsible for insurance" and then moved on to the "relationship to patient" line.
I've only ever filled out "self" for that. Ever. I've never filled out a form on behalf of the hubby so I never even completed one listing myself as "spouse." But now? I had to write "mother" on that line as my eyes began to well with tears and lump developed in my throat. I did something else for a while, then continued with the form - only to be prompted to enter "Mother" and "Father" information. For a split second, I almost wrote my parents' names until it hit me again: WE'RE the parents. Holy crap. WE are the parents? Who let this happen? Time to push back the tears again.
This is why I haven't worn mascara all week. I can never tell anymore when a moment like this is going to pop up and I'm going to cry.
I'm about to be someone's mother, completely in charge of and responsible for his healthcare (amongst other things, of course, but maintaining your child's health to the best of your responsibility seems to be the biggest job of all, especially in the beginning).
Thankfully, I have the disability application to make me laugh.
First of all, maternity is a disability. This isn't a new concept to me, having worked in benefits for so long, but it'll never cease to be strange. Becoming a mother shouldn't be considered a disability... although ask me again in a week or so. I might change my mind.
But onto the form... since this is a generic disability form, the questions are very general. Because my "disability" is pregnancy, however, this creates some amusing moments in questioning:
#16 Describe your disability (How, when, where it happened)
Well, you see, it was a steamy August night... oh, wait, not what you're looking for?
#17 Was this injury/illness caused by your job?
Wouldn't the hubby be surprised. :-/
#8 Type of surgery? Is surgery for cosmetic purposes only?
Well, yes - doesn't this baby make me look hot?
It's a shame we actually need the disability payments to come through and that writing down funny answers would delay the form and the payment - because I would really love to fill out the "true" answers.
As for the pediatrician, I'm sure it won't be the first time she gets paperwork with a few tear marks.
Reader Comments (4)
I know. It's still freaky to me that I'm going to be somebody's MOM! Most of the time I have NO idea what's going on! I can't keep a plant alive to save my life! It kinda freaks me out.
I can't keep plants alive, either. But my dogs are thriving, so that gives me hope. LOL
It's definitely surreal to think about. I'm pretty sure he'll be entering kindergarten and I'll still be grappling w/the fact that I'm a mother.
Oh, wow. I didn't think about the paperwork! We haven't made an appointment with our pediatrician yet, so now I have that to look forward to! CRAZY!
Wow! That would definitely be a surreal thought... I'm a MOM!!! I have not yet had the pleasure of having that thought, but I still remember feeling rather overwhelmed (in a good way) the first time that I heard that I was an aunt. Somehow it's amazing and terrifying at the same time to know that you are now in the "adult" category and someone young and vulnerable looks up to you to lead and guide and protect them.