Yesterday I had a fall. It wasn’t serious but I lost my footing outside my house and ended up on the ground, knee first. I would like to let the record show that I was stone cold sober.
It has been years since I fell over. However, over the past few years my kids have fallen over numerous times, too many to recount.
I am guilty of what I am sure many parents are: dismissing a fall as “just a little fall”. I can hear myself now.
“Are you okay? Sure it’s only a little trip!”
Ah, you’ll be grand!
Granted most of the time I would say that type of thing to calm them down but, after my fall yesterday I sat, a bit shaky, icing my aching knee thinking things are going to change.
No longer will I dismiss them. No longer will I try to get them up and back on their feet quick smart (as sometimes I would if I’m in a hurry somewhere).
I am going to go all out sympathy offensive from now on. Okay, I’m not going to mollycoddle them, I know kids fall, they have less to fall (and they bounce) but I now appreciate their tears because when you fall, it really HURTS!!