Family had minor crisis this week, one of my step sons took a bad tumble down a set of slate stairs while trying to walk down them on roller skates. His brother came in and got me, I got dressed and went out to see what happened. Admittedly, I thought to myself that he was fine and that I was sure he was just being dramatic. I went checked him over got him to the car and we took him to the doctor. Turns out the poor kid broke his leg and his forearm on the left side. That evening when my mom called to check up on my step son, we talked about a few things; her giving me advice as a nurse and mother of five boys on taking care of the cast and breaks. I also told her about how I felt really bad for not initially believing my step son. My mother told me I was just like my dad and automatically thought that “Just walk it off” was the right way to handle falls, not meaning that anyone wouldn’t be upset over a break but that because of past dramatics we almost shook off a real problem. I am torn on would it be better to teach your children not to cry wolf so to speak, so real problems are believed immediately if you can teach every child that. Or if as a parent I need to take every bump and bruise as serious as the wailing and crying makes it sound.
Luckily my mother and every first aid class I have ever taken always taught me to take every fall seriously because it can be a break that even the injured person doesn’t realize. I fear if I will always be able to make the right call, will I be able to tell real injuries from attention grabbing minor injuries. I know that no dad is perfect, and I am from the old school of thinking, “If you’re not bleeding or dying your fine”. That’s the way I was raised and that’s the way I truly think, but is that right. Not every child is the same, not everyone’s pain tolerance is the same, nor is everyone’s drive to do it by themselves the same. All I can do is hope to learn and get a better feeling for that question. I would love to hear about other parents ideas and ways of thinking…