in clinic....

The following interactions are from the same 3 yo boy patient and his 5 yo brother

Me in clinic: what is your favorite color?

3 yo boy: Luigi

Me: (looks to the mom in confusion)

Mom: let's see... Luigi is green.  He means green.

Me: do you hurt anywhere?

3yo: no

Brother: when he sits on my back it hurts

Attending to boy: What's your name?

Boy: John

Mom: he means Johan

Brother raised his right hand, and when I ignored that he alternatively raised his left hand, then switched to right hand again while looking at me eagerly, like he was in the classroom

Me: Yes?

Brother: I like Mario. 

Brother: (eagerly showing me his Mario Go Kart video game) do you have any video games?

Me: no

Brother: Does your son have video games?

Me: I don't have kids.

Brother: Does your baby have games?

Me: I don't have a baby.

Brother: You should get video games.

Me: Good idea.  Thank you for the suggestion.

(I feel depressed that I am old enough to have kids.)

Me: [touching the 3 yo's neck to feel for lymph nodes]
3 yo: [scrunches up his shoulders because he feels tickled]
Me: Aha are you ticklish?!
5 yo brother: Are we all tickling each other?? [Jumped up, pounced toward me, extended both arms, and tickled my trunk with all his fingers while my hands are still feeling his brother's neck.  I was so tickled and wanted to jump back sooo badly, but outwardly remained immobile. (I have to keep up appearances in front of the mom y'know).  I think the brother was a bit dismayed that I didn't respond, because he somewhat disappointedly said, "You aren't ticklish?"]

At the end, per the brother's request, I let them both use my stethoscope and listen to each other and me.  They listened to the sounds curiously and intently.  The stethoscope looked humongous on them.  Ah I love these kids.

Like: Older siblings who help me examine the young patients.  I had another 1.5-year-old boy in clinic today being held by his mom, who was about to cry as I moved closer to examine him, until his ?6-year-old sister blew raspberries against his leg and distracted him (she was only tall enough to reach his leg)