The Penny.

     That bright shiny thing that looks like it's a penny stuck in an esophagus? Well, it's actually a penny stuck in an esophagus...My friend's daughter got into her purse, swallowed a penny, and instead of it going through it turned sideways and got stuck right at the top of her stomach. Her daughter said she was feeling sick and after some intense questioning confessed to eating change. I'm not going so far as to say that the kid has pica, but it's not always good to just grab handfuls of non-nutritive substances.
     A visit to the emergency room and a couple of upper endoscopes later and she was just fine. The story acts is a reminder of what can happen if I stop watching my kids for a full ten seconds. I know things are going to happen, I know kids get hurt and that's just part of the growing up process. And I'm sure my kid is going to get into their fair share of potted plant soil and loose change; I know I did. Regardless, I hope she'll be okay and won't resent me too much.