May 2008 Archives
I'm not one of those mothers who jumps up and frets over every bump & bruise. They are children, they'll get lots of them! Also, I personally have a pretty high tolerance for pain (I get cavities filled without using any painkiller; 37 hours of labor, no painkiller, etc...) A few years ago, I fell at the beginning of a 5K race and cut my eyebrow. I ran all 5K before going to the ER and getting eight stitches. And that's the story, my kids are sick to death of me referencing. As in:
Since the swelling hadn't gone down the next day, I took her to the doctor, who sent me for x-rays. Again, this is not an uncommon drill. Each child has had many x-rays of ankles, knees, wrists and nothing was ever broken. This time, however, it was a fractured ankle. The nurse looked at the x-ray and commented that she must have a pretty high tolerance for pain. Yes, and apparently she gets that from me.
Child: "Mom, I hurt my wrist in gym class, should I stay home from basketball tonight?"It's this tendency NOT to over-react that has rubbed off on my children. Perhaps not to anyone's benefit; they no longer speak up when something is really hurting. Four weeks ago, my girl arrived home from gymnastics with a swollen ankle and was unable to put any weight on it. (Bad dismount off of the balance beam). She's twisted ankles before, I know the drill - ice it, elevate it. I did this and sent her to bed. I have friends that would have had her in the ER immediately. As I said, that's not me.
Me: "Suck it up. I ran over three miles with blood running down my face. You're going to go to basketball."
Since the swelling hadn't gone down the next day, I took her to the doctor, who sent me for x-rays. Again, this is not an uncommon drill. Each child has had many x-rays of ankles, knees, wrists and nothing was ever broken. This time, however, it was a fractured ankle. The nurse looked at the x-ray and commented that she must have a pretty high tolerance for pain. Yes, and apparently she gets that from me.
