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I don’t know who needs to hear this but I’ve been reading in some newspaper articles that people are scared to get their kids tested for covid so I thought I might share mine and my 4-year-old’s experience of getting tested.
We both had colds last week and she was due to see her grandparents this week (my dad has chronic illness) so we thought it best to get a test. We’ve talked a lot about ‘the germs’ and I explained to her that the germs might make nan and pa very sick so we need to get tested.
I explained to her that we’d both have a little swab stuck up our noses and in our throats. She was a bit nervous but then I bribed her with SUGAR. I made an appointment at The Austin Hospital because I thought I’d have a better chance of keeping her entertained.
When we arrived we had to wait for a few minutes then we were taken through to an area where I had my blood pressure tested and I answered a few questions about my (and my kid’s) symptoms. A nurse gave my kid a lollipop and a very kind doctor gave my kid stickers. (Rapt)
My kid asked shitloads of questions about equipment and gloves and masks and was VERY INTERESTED in everything. We were then taken to another little waiting room where my kid started getting ‘the silly beans’.
After a few minutes (& a toilet stop & redoing the sanitisation process) we were taken to another room where another LOVELY nurse patiently did our tests. He talked me and my kid through everything and then my kid did the test first. She laughed during the throat swab.
Then she breezes through the nose swab and told me it was ok, ‘just a little wiggly’. She watched me do it and told me I was brave. Then that night she rang her grandparents and proudly told them she got tested ‘because they are VERY old’ and she didn’t want them to get sick.
Anyway, I know this is dull as fuck, but if anyone is out there & worried about getting tested or worried about getting their little kids tested I thought this story of me and my little legend 4-year-old might help get you over the line. Stay safe pals. 
Also the staff at the Austin were amazing and very kind and chilled.
