It's OK: If the Kids get Scuffed

If the only injury children experience is repetitive motion syndrome from playing X-Box, our species is doomed. 

-- Darren Bush, Kids Need Room to Roam: Tips on Taking Your Little Ones Camping

at The Art of Manliness

If you feel an extra bounce in your step this month, it's because Colorado is sucking up all the gravity. Sorry about that.  This time of year, a lot of things go downhill 'round here.

Including my kids.

You'd think I would know that "gravity + sleds + trees = bad news" by now, but that's why we've got a #momguilt label there on the right menu bar.

I'd love to be one of those genuinely calm moms like my EMT friend, who can stay cucumber-cool while a child is gushing blood.  I've seen her do it, and I'm in awe.  

But, no, I am one of those outwardly calm moms who is saying, "Great work, you're so brave," and "Can you squeeze my hand?" and "How many fingers am I holding up?" while my inner dialog is more along the lines of oh &*%$$## please don't let it be an eye injury, where's that blood coming from, and how the *&%%% am I going to get a kid to the ER in a blizzard and oh (&%%# why didn't I put on the snow tires last October?

It's all Facebook-perfect until Mama grabs the Stupid Button with both hands real life bites you in the hinder.

We did not need that trip to the ER, so it was a good day in the end.  And now that I'm less rattled, here's the self-talk:

It's OK: Today's Takeaways

• As noted here by the wise Darren Bush, you "minimize risk through planning, education and keeping [your] wits about [you]."
• I should could have done a better job of risk management yesterday.
• I will do so in the future. Helmets come to mind. Goggles. Treeless slopes.
• With that, the self-castigation needs to end.

It's OK, Mama. Anything that can be cured with cuddles, Children's Motrin, and mug cake is not a real emergency.

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Update 02-26-16: You're going to hear a lot about my guru in this blog. On her gentle and gracious advice, I've fixed updated the post as noted in the strikethroughs. Because, in her wise words:

It was an accident - those happen regardless of how many precautions are taken:) . . . Yes, you COULD've. But, who the hell can do it all? Does this make any sense? It's the only piece in any of the 3 blog posts that didn't ring true with the rest. Just my two cents. For what it's worth.

It's worth SO much.  Tammy, je t'adore.
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