Well, this was NOT a shock for me....since I was just exactly the same when I was Colby's age!  I had a major fear of needles...any time I had to have a shot or labwork as a child I would scream, cry, wiggle, flail about....get the idea??  Well, I guess that I have now met my match, in a 6 year old son who is quite strong willed and very strong in his resistence!  So, we went to the doctor for the annual well-child visit this week.  He kept asking the nurse, doctor and me, "No shots right?"  Right, no shots!  So, little brother gets two shots and a finger stick for his lead level test.  He cried for a second and then said, "That didn't hurt that bad!"  He was happy to go home and swim with Dad.  Big Brother did have to go to the lab to have some blood work....for the standard 6 year old test, CBC, Cholesterol tests....Here's where it gets interesting....I knew from the Kindergarten visit to the doctor, that we'd be in for a battle....Me (holding him like an octopus), the nurse sitting on his legs and the doctor all together to get his finger stick and two immunizations!!  I NEVER wanted to do that again... 

So, we talked about it and I basically bribed him into going.  We took his favorite stuffed dog and went to Target to choose something he REALLY wanted (Legos $10).  I then drove to the lab.  He was fine until we got into the lab, then the talking (begging) and tears began.  We talked about why we needed to do this, how fast we could be done and home, playing with the new legos and swimming with dad....THEN, they called us back.  Down we sat, in THE CHAIR.  Once I sat down first, he sat in my lap (reluctantly).  Then the writing was on the wall....The arm rest went SLAM (like a jail door I guess, to Colby) and he starts to Scream, "NO!  NOT THAT!  NEVER!"  Okay, I reason with him, Just relax, close your eyes and breathe in a deep breath.    He suddenly has both hands in a DEATH GRIP around the chair and won't let go!  

20 (yes, 20 minutes later....) we are still trying to get him to trust this lab technician to JUST LOOK at his arm.  She finally got that far, and he started telling her that she could only touch, not use that rubber band thing.  AND, she could not take his blood from his arm, only his wrist!  UMM, that's not the way it works....We finally got the arm out and rubberband on his arm....NO WAY!!  He yanks his arm back and we're done!  So, I am beyond frustrated with my son, tired and hungry at this point (It's after 5 p.m. now and we've been the spectacle long enough at the lab)....We walk outside, still debating about why he needs to do this and why we should go back inside and "try it again" according to my negotiator son now.  He wants to have an iron clad guarantee that I won't take his Legos back....until he gets his blood taken.  Well, since he has been a negotiator all of his life (I jokingly call him my Lawyer in training...No offense meant!)   I agree that I will keep them until Tuesday afternoon.  Then they go back!  Dad was supposed to take him yesterday morning, while I was at my last morning of bible study....and they conveniently "got too busy and FORGOT".  So, we talked about it last night - again....and I have talked about my own fear of needles - which used to be just as bad, I would just avoid them like the plague!  I did overcome the fear, after a trusted counselor suggested I may need some help with my phobia.  I am trying the same techiniques with Colby right now, just talking about it and trying to answer his questions with honesty and gentle reassurance.  He agreed to think about it last night, after we talked while he was laying in bed ready to doze off.  Today, I have not spoken about "THE LAB" and going...only about relaxing, running one errand to  get a few things from the store, and cleaning the house up...  

Has anyone else dealt with this and their kids?  What works for you all?  I am not willing to just take a drive to the lab (he is well aware of the way we need to go and gets suspicious if we even head that direction) and he is to the age, where he needs to be a willing participant (or at least willing to sit still)  in order to get the tube and needle in position and not do damage to him (or anyone in the vacinity!)  I still have the Legos hidden....but am not sure that's all it's going to take.  My mom has added the incentive of her taking him to get ice cream after all is said and done....we'll see if that's enough....If that doesn't work, what will we do??