I have come to realize that something is amiss at pediatrician's offices nation wide. I have been going to their offices for the last 6 years, 4 of which have been with 2 children.

There is a shirt fixation going on that I just the other day realized! I take my child to the pediatrician for a bug bite reaction on his foot. Does the nurse say "Please have your shoes off when the doctor comes in"? No! She says, "Please have your shirt off when the doctor comes in". If I remember my anatomy classes correctly, the foot is way at the bottom of our bodies.

My son and I had *plenty* of time to read all the books, admire the one picture on the wall, check out what was in the drawers and cabinets (of this 8x8 matchbox of a room) while waiting for the doctor to come in. I also took the opportunity to ponder this shirt thing.

When I took my other child in last week, we were there to determine whether or not she had a urinary tract infection. Before hand, I dreaded the moment the nurse would tell her to undress down to her panties. Although she is the Queen of Nakedness at home, she is very modest outside of the family. This was not going to be a Hallmark moment for any of us. I should have known though. I should have been more aware of this long ago. How could I have missed it? Am I supposed to disrobe my little 4 year old down to panties. Of course not! As the nurse walks out, closing the door......she says "Please have her shirt off when the doctor comes in". I may not be a doctor, my only medical experience being band aid application, temperature taking, maintaining the mental well being of my children and the like, but...... I can not for the life of me figure out why the office confused the one end for the other. I have been to the doctor's for a wide variety of ailments. Regardless of the ailment, we are always required to take off the children's shirts!

The only time that I can remember not having to take a shirt off was when my daughter fell and hit her head. It would not do to pull a shirt over a big gash in the forehead. Although I haven't needed to take my children in for a hang nail, I can only imagine they will have to take their shirts off. Doctors and nurses have spent years going to school, so my only conclusion is that there has *got* to be a shirt "thing" among pediatricians and their staff. I wonder if there is a class that they must take "Shirts 101".

I will not fall pray to this shirt fetish! I think, (just to confuse them in the future) that I will take off a different piece of clothing (but not the shirt) at each of our visits. This should give them a clue that I am on to them. I might even be able to get to a point where they rush us in and out quickly because they know that I will not succumb to their shirt fixation! The next time you take your kids to the doctor's office....keep an eye out and watch those shirts!