Thursday, August 6, 2009

I Broke My Kid

That's how it feels, anyway. Owen has a "buckle fracture" of his ulna in his right forearm resulting from a rather daredevil episode on his bike. Yes, the bike he just learned to ride without training wheels earlier this summer. Yes, I was supervising when said breakage occurred.

I should be fired as a parent.

I had all sorts of fancy blogging planned for today about the "chilling effect" and "free speech" and "self-censorship", but I'm playing Candyland and Chutes and Ladders instead, trying to patch a hole in my wounded self-concept of parenthood.

I'll get to that post, I always do, but for now...in the interest of public safety, I give you:



Be safe people.

19 comments:

Cate Gardner said...

He survived. You'll survive. And now, thanks to the zombie advice, I'll survive. All round win.

I think kids should be daredevils and risk the odd break (not that I am ever reckless with my niece or nephew - ahem!). I was such a wimp as a kid.

Anonymous said...

It's the worst feeling in the world!! My post today is specifically for you, but it's not for the faint of heart. And you know what? He's absolutely fine. :)

Aaron Polson said...

Cate - Yeah...before the fall, I kept telling myself "don't make him a sissy". Well...at least we're ready for the zombies.

Mercedes - you're right. He's fine. I'm the one who, you know, is freaked out.

Sophie Playle said...

Kids are always getting broken. He'll be ok :)

And ha, that video was awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Aaron Polson said...

Sophie - yeah, the break easily and heal a lot quicker than adults.

K.C. Shaw said...

Poor little tike! I'm sure your kid will be fine, and in the meantime he's got a great story to tell his friends. (And a great story to remind you of when he's older. "Remember that time you almost killed me, Dad? Can I borrow five bucks?")

Aaron Polson said...

K.C. - he's going to look tough on the first day of school...splint on his arm, bruises (from the wreck) on his face, missing teeth (ala mother nature)...

Tough.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Just remember wounds heal, but scars are forever and chicks dig scars.

Thanks for the video, that was awesome.

Fox Lee said...

Think back to when you were a kid: could your parents have REALLY saved you from every cut, bump, and/or broken bone?

My guess is, years from now, he'll have a happy memory of playing Candy Land with his dad. Also, you could get him a present ; )

Rebecca Nazar said...

When my daughter was four she broke her arm too, falling out of a chair while romping with big sister. These things happen.

We all survived and she got a kick out of her purple cast.

Unknown said...

my parents put me on the bike without teaching me how to steer it. and they were then surprised when i drove it right into a ditch.

and i forgive them :^)

i doubt there was anything you could do. sometimes these things just happen.

and thats your zen of the day from samantha

Alan W. Davidson said...

Ha! Great video. My sources in southern BC say the zombie escape rumour is greatly exagerated.

Sorry to hear about Owen's daredevil mishap...such is the world of the stunt man. If it's any consolation in the "bad parent" department, we sent our son to camp two years ago and he got mowed down by a 16 year old while playing Red Rover. He called home the next day complaining of a sore arm and we told him to tough it out. He returned home at the end of the week and we sent him off to another camp with his sore arm. After that, we gave it a few more days and he still complained. We took him to emerg. and, you guessed it, his arm was broken right at the shoulder. We felt pretty bad about that for a long time. He's still alive, though. Owen will have a cool cast for kids to sign when he returns to school.

Danielle Birch said...

I think most kids end up with some kind of bike related injury from their childhood. I know I did - and my brother (fresh out of training wheels) once rode his bike straight into the side of our above ground pool.

Jameson T. Caine said...

I'm sure he'll be boasting about "the time he fractured his arm" for years to come.

Elana Johnson said...

Aaron, I so hear you on failing as a parent. And kids are totally breakable. Good thing they mend just as easily.

Aaron Polson said...

Okay...I feel better. Thanks, everyone.

Keep those eyes peeled for zombies.

Katey said...

I'm late, but yeah, what Jamie said. My mom used to say that very same thing, "I don't want to make you guys sissies..." (best word ever!) But we kind of are anyhow, and that wasn't her fault either ;)

Jeremy D Brooks said...

Ooo...that sucks.

This will make you feel better: my 9YO fell headlong into a cactus last month while roller skating. Not the kind with long, spiky thorns, thankfully, but thousands of little nettle-like hairs that itch like all hell. It took me three full hours with tweezers and a floodlight to pull them all out.

All part of growing up...(us and them).

Jodi Lee (Morrighan) said...

This isn't going to make you feel any better, but - it was going to happen someday. Whether you're there or not, and better you were, right?

It's all part of growing up, and toughening up (as a parent). There'll be more, trust me.