Yesterday Charlie had a routine physical. Any time he has an opportunity to be around medical or dental professionals, he seizes it by asking questions about the process and any other science-related questions he has time to squeeze in. Like he asked the doctor, "Does this facility have an electron microscope? How much would one cost?" (He would like to have one of his own. This is out of the question unless we start playing and win the lottery.) "How do you measure for disease by checking a blood sample?" "Would the same apply to excretions such as sweat or urine?" The doctors are typically very patient and answer his questions as completely as they can (and his doctor was).

So for the very first time in his life, he had to give a blood sample. This was very exciting stuff. He started peppering the phlebotomist with questions. She then asks him, "Are you going to be a doctor some day?" To which he answers, "Yes, I'm planning to be an immunologist."

At this point she raises her eyebrows, not expecting to hear this coming from the mouth of a 10-year-old. She then asks, "Do you have your pee-pee cup?" Ugh. Why do adults do this? Inwardly I cringed. She seemed like a nice person, but why do adults feel it necessary to talk down to children? I can see maybe saying that to a pre-schooler, but yikes! No wonder kids think adults are a little slow sometimes.

You'll have to excuse me now, I have to go wee-wee.