By MAD21
Most parents know that children learn best when they see your example. And as most of you know, it's not beyond me to go that extra mile to be the best example I can be.
We've had beautiful weather in the area this past week and my kids and I have spent a lot of time outside in it. Jumping on the trampoline, riding bikes, drawing with sidewalk chalk... riding scooters...
My oldest has gotten really good with riding her scooter. So good that she tends to ride it really fast and is trying "tricks." Much to my dismay, I might add. But I haven't said anything except that she needs to be aware of all the ridges in the sidewalk and that the scooter may come to an abrupt stop.
You see where I'm going with this yet? ...No?
On Friday afternoon, my oldest was on her "big wheel," my youngest was on her scooter, and I was on my oldest's scooter. We were all zipping up and down the sidewalks around our house. At one point, I was going around a corner and my oldest was coming from the other direction and I went to go around her and hit the corner of the grass, I did a little hop and narrowly escaped falling. However, on my landing I managed to hit a stick in the driveway and did not recover. Well... I never said I was graceful...
Next thing I know I'm flying through the air trying to figure out how to land that will do the least amount of damage. But I was going at a faster velocity than I had anticipated. I landed first on my hands and feet, then right shoulder, then left knee. I promptly jumped up and exclaimed, "Ta-daaaa!" To which my oldest stood in pure astonishment.
"Mommy!!! Are you ok? What happened?" I said, "I was going too fast and came to an abrupt stop, well, the scooter did anyway." Looking at my hands that looked like I had run them through a cheese grater and my scraped up shoulder and knee she then says, "Mommy? Why aren't you crying??!"
I didn't really have an answer for her. I told her it hurt really bad, but I was going to be ok. And basically said she should learn from my mistake. Ya. In pain and I'm trying to use it as a life-lesson. (I saved my screaming for later when I was in private trying to clean out my wounds and bandage them. Aaahh!)
She has taken good care of me all weekend. Both my girls have, and the hubby. I'm behind on everything now, since to do anything you really need your hands. But you cannot help but laugh at the sight of a grown woman flying off of a scooter and sliding across the concrete. I know my oldest won't soon forget. I hope she's learned her lesson.
My friend and fellow blogger Wendy at Weight..What? has a fun carnival at her blog called "Life is Funny." Every Monday we talk about something in life that we find funny. Be sure to go visit her blog to read her post along with links to other blogs who are participating.