Boo boo's

Discipline, illness and injuries are as painful for moms as they are for the kids, maybe even more so for mom.  There is nothing worse than knowing that your child is ill or hurt and that you cannot make it instantaneously better.  Of course, that also creates the tendency to overreact to every slip or fall.  You know those moms who gasp and rush to the aid of every scratch and hang nail!. There are also moms like me, who have learned not to react which has its own set of issues.

I am the mom who worked hard not to gasp and would make comments like "Are you bleeding?" or "Are any body parts falling off?" or "Don't be such a baby."  (Yes, I am a compassionate, caring nurse.)  As a result, my kids did not cry hysterically every time they scraped their knees, and when they did scream I knew it was big one.  Let's see.  First there was the time when "Mommy" fell in the yard.  She says she tripped over the dog.  Her siblings say she was trying to ride it.  She screamed hysterically for a good reason - she broke both bones in her forearm.  It required a trip to the ER and then to surgery at Children's Hospital.  That one was pretty easy to figure out. 

Not all of them were though.  There was the time that "Calvin" got his arm smacked between two football helmets in Middle School.  It looked like it was just bruised to me.  Two weeks later he complained that it hurt to lift his bookbag.  Me, the compassionate, caring nurse said "Fine, if you are going to be a big baby about a bruise we will have Dad get an xray.  Diagnosis:  Hairline fracture.  I felt pretty bad.  Dad still let him play football with his arm padded.  I will never forget him coming off the field begging to have the wraps taken off as he explained that it had cost him two interceptions.  Doc stood firm.  No splint, no game.  Calving stomped off saying "That's the last time I seek medical advice from you guys!" 

There were others.  A broken foot for "Pook" after he either fell or was pushed off the top bunk, depending on whose story you chose to believe.  I of course, was sure he was faking and yelled at him to get upstairs for dinner.  You guessed it - fracture.  He seems to be the one that was injured the most at least with fractures.  Thumb, collar bone, foot, hip.  I learned to take him seriously when he complained.  He was legit!

Some of the other kids took "Calvin's" approach.  If I complain enough, they will respond, but I might not like it if they respond.  "Mini Me" fractured her had playing basketball and begged me not to tell Doc because he would not let her play until it was healed.  She was right, but it turned out to be one of those things you just couldn't hide. 

Others loved the attention, and EVERY SINGLE BOO BOO was reported.   I had no patience with that!  Somehow we have survived.  I have no solid advice for how to handle illness and injuries.  Evaluate the injury as well as your child's mental status and history.  Common sense helps a lot, but no one is perfect!