Whenever you're young and healthy and childless, the worst type of doctor;s visit for a woman is the pap smear. It's uncomfortable. You wanna make sure you're fresh, clean and well-groomed for your doctor because you're embarassed about your ladybits. You're horrified by the unladylike position you are in with your doctor who is a virtual stranger. It is scary. I even had a colleague who told me that after every pap smear she always went to get herself a treat from Dairy Queen as a reward for getting through it (I wish I had thought of it).
Anyway, before baby, when I had a pap smear it was like, the BIG THING on my agenda for the week and consumed a silly amount of time, energy and anxiety.
I had a pap smear today. Had to bring my baby in the room with me. I showered but did not stress the grooming. I wasn't the least bit embarassed about my body or my ladybits (it feels like everyone and their mother already saw them while I was in labour). In fact, as the doctor performed the test, I was playing peekaboo with my daughter in the stroller beside the table I was propped up on.
It makes me realize how many other silly things I wasted energy on that really don't matter. Ugh.
Babies: the ultimate taechers of "hindsight is 20/20".
