Last week, one of Annabel’s teachers pulled me aside to ask me when the last time Annie had her eyes checked. She and her co-teacher had noticed Annie squinting at the board and putting her head on her desk when she was writing. I hadn’t noticed any of these behaviors at home, but I wasn’t surprised. My brother and I both started wearing glasses in elementary school, and Mike began wearing them in high school. I made an appointment for her at a kids’ optometry center and we went in for her exam yesterday.
Before this, the only vision screenings Annie had experienced were quick looks at vision charts at the pediatrician’s office, so she had no idea what to expect. I tried to calm her nerves by telling her an optometrist visit is one of the easiest appointments around – much more relaxing than a trip to the dentist or even pediatrician! But she still wanted to bring along a stuffed animal for support.
I love my optometrist, but I’m sooo glad I took her to a place that specializes in kids. The staff explained everything to her before it happened, which really put her at ease. AND I got to see her eyeball magnified, which was super-cool.
The exam Annie had was much different than what I’ve experienced. She identified colors and 3D shapes, and the typical letter chart, but she did it with an assortment of different “eyewear.”
Annie has an astigmatism (I do, too), and the optometrist determined she will definitely need glasses. I wasn’t sure how she was going to react to this news, but she was STOKED. “I am so excited I need glasses! I get to be a nerd!” I started to say, “Nerd isn’t a nice word,” but she cut me off with, “The nerds are the coolest kids at my school!” Uh, okay then.
Her excitement reached new levels when she found out she got to pick out her new frames while we were there. She wanted to try on EVERYTHING.
Even her bunny got in on the action:
But when she found THE PAIR, you could see it on her face:
I was not prepared for glasses to make her look like she is 12.
Her frames arrive next week, and then we’ll figure out how often she needs to wear them. She is BESIDE herself with excitement. I’m glad she’s so happy!
Toni says:
Monica S. says:
Great choice!! You are beautiful, Annabel~
Monica S. says:
Great choice!! You are beautiful, Annabel!
Monica S. says:
OOPs! That wasn’t suppose to post twice!
jordan says:
Welcome to the four-eyes life, Annabel! I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in 2nd grade. My teacher pulled my grandma and asked her if I’d had my eyes checked– I was also squinting, and I couldn’t see anything on the board so I’d go sit on the floor in front of the board. apparently my classmates thought I was starting a fun trend and not going blind, because they all tried to join me! It was the only time I was a popular trend-setter! I’ve worn glasses ever since. My eyes have gotten progressively worse (pretty much yearly) since then, and am hoping someday to get lasik done so I can be rid of the glasses once and for all! (I’m pretty sure they’re one of the causes of my awful migraines).
Annabel looks DARLING! My dad picked out one of my first pairs of glasses– I looked like freaking Urkel for a year (I’ll have to find a picture to show you, it was comical). It was the first and last time my dad ever picked my glasses!
Hope it helps her– seeing makes all the difference in the world!
Wendy says:
They are a great choice. Annie you look lovely in them and so does bunny.
My daughter was excited when she had to wear glasses at about the same age. (She had free at the point of use NHS ones so the choice wasn’t that good. Much better nowadays).
KimAZ says:
As a teacher of many years, let me tell you there is nothing but jealousy every time a classmate gets glasses now. The frames are so cool or sporty or sparkly that everyone wants in. The clear fakes at Claire’s are a big accessory these days in elementary. You look PERFECT, Annie!
Glenda says:
Hello Annie. I too was in 2nd grade and my daughter as well. My daughter was super excited. I, not so much. ?
Lynn says:
Wow she does look 12!! Love what she picked. Super cute.
Auntie_M says:
So cute!!!! And she looks very sophisticated!
My 12 year old nephew has been wearing glasses with no prescription in the actual glass in order to look more like the dark haired guy from Big Bang Theory (sorry, cannot remember his name), so I guess being a nerd IS cool!
Bonniesmom says:
Hooray for Annie’s teachers for noticing a problem and then saying something to you. I needed glasses for years before my mother would believe me that I could not see. And boy, can I not see! I am glad that Annie got to pick out her own frames… again, my mom did that and they were awful! Way to go Annie and Heather. Nerds are awesome!
samatwitch says:
Good choice on the frames, Annie. You do look like A cool nerd – and that’s a compliment. Geeks and nerds cover almost all of my friends. (Bunny also looks good.)
monsoonmiss says:
I wanted glasses very badly as a child, and luckily (heh) for me, I have really poor vision and have needed contacts/glasses since I was 7! Weirdly, my right eye contact prescription has gotten weaker as I’ve gotten older. I asked my Dr. why that is and he was like “eh, who knows, it’s just something that happens sometimes”. Annie’s glasses look great, welcome to the 4-eyes club!
Jeanie says:
I’m always excited when it’s time for me to get new glasses, too! Unfortunately, I think it’s also time for me to get the cataract surgery.
Lisa says:
I’m a little jealous that it’s cool to wear glasses now. With my oldest daughter, she was not teased at all and some classmates were jealous. Her younger sister took to wearing glasses without a prescription in it to fit in.
Sue says:
Annie,,you look absolutely beautiful in glasses, and I’m so glad that you are excited to start wearing them!!!
Amy says:
Glasses forever! I just saw Annie in a segment on the news about jungle gym in a movie theater!
Nellie says:
Ohh, they are absolute PERFECTION on her! She is beautiful with and without the glasses!!!
Leah says:
I got glasses in second grade–but I managed to wear them only intermittently until fourth grade, when I succumbed to full-time wear. If she can, let her try to go without them at times, and not read too long without getting up and/or refocusing her eyes on distant objects. Nothing wrong with glasses, but it’s good to keep the eyes strong.
Lee Cockrum says:
So glad she is happy and excited about it! She looks so cute!
Jackie says:
Yay for teachers! Both of my younger boys needed glasses but I wasn’t the first to notice–their teachers were! I was so grateful they were able to catch them both early so that my boys’ learning wouldn’t be hindered.
Z says:
I have astigmatism too. And yes, nerds are trending right now. Let’s hope it sticks, because they’re the best, bar none. Nice choice of frames as well!
Rachel says:
We use Zenni optical for my 8 year old’s glasses. They’re really affordable (I think the pair Santa brought were $10) and we always have a backup if she leaves them somewhere. My husband and I use them too and they always come out great.
Heather says:
Oh awesome, I will definitely get her a pair from there!