So, something pretty surprising happened around here the other weekend. The boys were off on a bike ride with dad (NOT mom, just to be clear). B being oh so (read too) confident on his balance bike went off ahead, flying down a hill without a care in the world. A stop sign paired with a blind corner prompted M to yell ‘stop stop!‘ and B did, like immediately, by twisting the handle 180 degrees. Off he flew over the front.
Thank God for helmets because we would have been off to the ER. Instead we were on the couch nursing numerous bumps, bruises, a road rash or two, and the fattest lip I’ve ever seen. Like, ever.
The worst part of this all? Well, it wasn’t the most surprising part of our weekend. Yep. I’ve almost come to expect these types of incidents with B. In his short little life, he’s had 9 stitches, been bit by a dog, dropped a full can of paint on his toe, cut open the top of his head from a cabinet corner, and now we can add bicycling extremist to the list. Yes. I have that kid.
The worst was around 18 months. I honestly wanted to put a helmet on him full time and I contemplated it often. I felt like we were living just a mere moment away from an ER visit at any given time. Not good for mom and dad’s nerves. The only time I could take a true deep breath was when he was blissfully asleep in his crib. He was safe and by safe I mean caged in. During the day, I had to be a step ahead of him at all times which is obviously, impossible, hence the history of injuries.
But we’ve made it so far. He turns three (!!!) this August and is still, for the most part, in one complete piece with a few added scars on the face. So, what exactly was the surprising part?
He hasn’t had his pacifier since the incident.
I’m not one to celebrate this accident happening, but there is a massive silver lining here. A gift, if you will. This kid was attached. And we had reached the age where it probably wasn’t the best to be attached. Especially since he is taller than some 4 year olds. I kept telling myself, after the next vacation I’d take it away (I couldn’t imagine traveling without it), but then we kept going away so it stuck around. Finally we hit spring break, our last vacation until late June. That gave me time to wean him off. Good plan C.
And yet it was still around. (AKA: mom is lazy). He’d have it on our morning walk, car rides, his nap, night time, and any time he got tired, annoyed, hurt, etc., which, obviously at age 2, was often. I didn’t even know how to begin to take it away, and I knew his sense of attachment combined with his stubbornness and flair for the dramatic would just equal one loooooong week for mom. Bummer. And yet then, just like that, his lip hurt too much to use and it was ::poof:: gone.
He hasn’t asked for it once since and is going about business as usual. Well, with a scabby face, of course.
There aren’t many stages in motherhood that are easy. You aren’t typically handed a break too often with little ones. There is a lot of good, bad, painful, blissful, awesome, tearjerking work that goes into the stages of getting them (alive) from infant to baby to toddler to preschooler to elementary. So, I’m basking in the glory of this one. Hallelujah. The pacifier is gone and I didn’t do a darn thing.
Well, aside from ice his lip for a good 48 hours. Hey, I’ll take it.
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Courtney
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Reminded me of the time my youngest was running around the house and slipped and hit his lip on the catch of a French door. He was also my one who was one step away from the ER. Well this time we had to go to the ER as his lip was literally hanging from his mouth. We got there and they had to call in a plastic surgeon because he had cut it across the line of vermillion ( I had no idea what that was but that is where the color of your lip meets the color of your face,and only a plastic surgeon can repair that.) The guy came in and told him to stop crying so he could sew him up. My mother instincts kicked in and I wanted to remind the guy this was a scared child but I soothed my son instead. To this day he has a small scar on his lip and he is still accident prone.
Ha….B. His arm flailing was intense this weekend!! I’m so glad there was a silver lining to this whole debacle…you deserve a break!! (Oh, and PS- we found the football!….that is one way to meet the new neighbors!)
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Twitter: butimhungry
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Poor little guy! Glad he’s feeling better! And yeah, I hope you enjoyed that parenting moment coming easy… because Lord knows that doesn’t happen very often! 😉
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Twitter: charminglyuncmp
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B can ride a BIKE?! I am so beyond impressed … daredevil antics and all!
The timing of this post was perfect as this is currently my game plan for potty training – especially after a brief stint this weekend that left us all in tears – pray and hope that something miraculously occurs and poof! potty trained. You’ve only given me further hope that it can happen haha.
Yes…..he can. Sigh.
I am so glad you wrote this. Logan was a miracle potty training kid. A week after he turned three he turned to me, asked for underwear, and never looked bad. We NEVER potty trained him. Ever. He never had an accident. That was that. I’m a BIG believer in not pushing potty training. If they are three and still in diapers IT’S OK. Unless there is some day care/pre school rule pushing you (and even then I believe they should be lenient) then, well, I’m all about letting it go….diapers are waaaaaay less stressful then potty training a kid that just isn’t ready.
Twitter: charminglyuncmp
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Philosophically I 100% agree with this and I’ve heard over and over 3 is the magic age. I’m just having such a hard time understanding how she can be so damn smart about so much and have such a vehemence against the whole idea of the potty. Oy.
It’s BECAUSE she is so smart. Why change something that is already working for her….? 🙂
Twitter: charminglyuncmp
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I was thinking more like stubborn and lazy…I’ll let you know in two months 😉
Wow, I can’t believe something positive came from this very stressful event! Yeah for you, cold turkey is always best in our household be it diapers, pacifier, bottle or training wheels! So glad you caught a break and dodged that moment of taking it away!
Oh ya – motherhood is definitley not an easy thing, but all those little challenges help us grow.
Twitter: roamingfamily
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Oh man..do I have so many crazy kid stories! It is so scary when they get hurt, and I am so thankful that so far we have been pretty luck (although we’ve had some big scares!!) As far as quitting things- cold turkey works over here as well. For just about anything actually!
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Twitter: SavingCmnCents
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It is totally amazing how tough little kids are. They can bounce back from injuries that would lay me up for a week! lol I’m glad to hear you had pacifier success from an otherwise not so nice incident…and I’m glad to hear he’s okay after his latest cycling stunt! lol
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I’m glad something positive came about! It can be so stressful being a mom, especially when they start riding bikes, rollerblading etc! Kids are so tough and resilient! Quitting things for my kiddos has been pretty easy, we just do it cold turkey and don’t look back!
Twitter: dapperhouse
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HA! You never know what tragedy will create a blessing in disguise. I tried to force the pacifier on my kids but none of my three would take it. I was so jealous of the moms who could soothe their kids with a paci while mine just fussed and cried! I do know that it can be a horrible habit to break so I guess I was lucky after all.
Twitter: stayclosetohome
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The challenges get different with each additional kid but never easier. Great post.
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Twitter: girlgonemom
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Oh, poor B! My little guy just turned three.
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Twitter: monkeystarpress
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Awe! Such a truthful post! I love stories about littles! My son was a thumb sucker, we weaned him off the binky at 5/6 months (it was hard, tho)!
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Twitter: faithfulmomblog
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That can be so scary! My son did something similar, only he ran into a house and broke his arm. I too was so thankful he was wearing a helmet because it could have been so much worse!
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That was great! My little one never wanted a pacifier so I totally lucked out with that, but my other child wouldn’t live without it until one day he decided today would be the day he didn’t want it anymore. Just quit cold turkey all on his own!
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Yikes that would be a serious panic moment. He seems like a really resilient child, wow!
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Twitter: hautepeople
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Motherhood is a full time time. I’m glad there were only bruises and nothing serious enough for him to be taken to the E.R. I’m glad he’s off the Pacifier …milestone reached
Twitter: _Everyday_Life_
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Poor little guy. Glad to hear he’s feeling better.
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I’m glad he wasn’t hurt too badly! Congrats on no more pacifier!
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Twitter: loisaltermark
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I am stressed just reading this! Motherhood is not for the weak of heart!
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Motherhood is not an easy task. I am glad everything turned out ok
our recently posted…How to Let Go and Let them Grow While Still Holding On
Kids can be so accident prone! We have 5 and thankfully had one had one need stitches, praying it stays that way!
Mama to 5 BLessings recently posted…My 30 Day No Shop Challenge Update
Doesn’t three come so fast? And then 13, and then 30… and well you get the idea. 🙂 I loved your write up.
I am with you on catching that break! It’s terrible that he had the accident but great that he’s off the pacifier! And I also have a child that is a walking disaster.
lisa recently posted…Turn Your Bedroom into a Sleep Sanctuary
Motherhood is never easy. I can so relate to this! I worry about my son every day!
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Twitter: LauraT_Funk
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I think all 18-24 month olds need helmets. Glad to hear you had an easy parenting win on the pacifier front. Hope the kiddo heals soon
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Twitter: dedastudios
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Bike accidents – ouch! I remember those days of scraped knees and elbows. I am all for bike helmets. Wisconsin is discussing passing a helmet requirement for all people on bikes riding on public roads.
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That is a great break. How lucky!
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Oh my! I have a nephew who is always getting into some sort of trouble like that and it’s so stressful! My only son gave up his pacifier around 4 months, for some reason he just wasn’t into it so I didn’t have to face that pacifier battle, but I’m so glad you finally got a break.
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