November 18, 2005
Walking Lessons
Walking Lessons
When my toddler walks around, she falls a lot. But she doesn't have far to fall and usually goes down onto her well padded and diapered behind. I don't have those luxuries.
Yesterday I was running late to pick The Boy up after school and so instead of grabbing my sling and putting the Baby in, I "saved time" by just carrying her in my arms. As I was walking quickly down the sidewalk to school, I either tripped over The Girl, my feet or (most likely) stepped part way off the sidewalk. Suddenly instead of being vertical, I was teetering, trying to balance, but because I was holding the baby in my arms instead of the sling, I had no arms to throw out and balance myself.
As I went down, my main thought was no to throw The Baby and not to let her hit the ground. I'm not sure exactly how I fell, except that my right knee hit the ground first and slid along the concrete and that when the world stopped, I was on the ground, and The Baby's head was about an inch or two above the concrete. She grinned and didn't know I wasn't trying to be funny when I took her on that wild ride.
My cords that I'd only worn once before now have a huge hole through the knee and the skin on my knee didn't fair much better. The other knee is bruised and swollen. But The Baby is fine and -- hey, I never thought any part of me would resemble an eight year old ever again.
And the moral of the story is -- always take the time to do things right and carry babies in a sling.
I just put Jay in a stroller if I have to walk any distance. He's gotten too heavy for me to wear. Maybe if I could put him on my back- MAYBE...
Posted by: Lenise at November 18, 2005 11:07 AMI did that once coming down the steps holding my firstborn when he was around a year old. I beat the bejeezus out of my body, but no part of my kiddo got hurt. My poor husband came running when he heard me start to go. All I could do was say "Take him." while I assessed the damage. Just a little sore and twisted. My husband said he was impressed at how well I protected the little guy. Those mother's instincts are amazing, aren't they?
Posted by: Jennifer at November 18, 2005 12:09 PMWell, bless your heart, Jordana. I'm glad it was nothing worse than it was--what it was was bad enough.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 18, 2005 01:12 PMYes, yes, glad to hear you are both ok! And they say motherhood is not dangerous!
My experience: I fell down in the middle of church, while Luke (about 2 months old at the time) was screaming and I was trying to leave quickly and quietly. I have never seen so many people get up so quickly to help me! Thankfully, my pride was the only thing injured.
Posted by: angie at November 18, 2005 02:46 PMAck!!! I was just trying to picture you with your arms and legs flailing about as you were trying to protect your baby as you were falling.
Are ya sore today?
Posted by: Chickadee at November 18, 2005 10:46 PMYour story brought back memories of a fall i had too. I was quite pregnant with my second child, and was leaving a Shipley's where I'd just acquired some very needed kolaches (!). I stepped down off the curb toward my car and miscalculated, tumbling forward with my almost two-year-old daughter in my arms. In keeping her safe, I couldn't put my hands down to stop my fall so my knee took the brunt of our weight as it smashed into the pavement. It was a mess: very cut up and bleeding, and "decorated" with gravel and dirt, as well as terribly bruised. But Abigail was absolutely fine; I think she might have even thought I was trying to be playful with her!
Posted by: Tricia at November 19, 2005 08:34 AMNice baby-save, but bummer about the cords. No, those things _aren't_ equal in my mind. Just sayin'... :-)
Posted by: Patricia at November 20, 2005 11:28 PMDefintely not equal, but I'm bummed about the cords too, Patricia.
Posted by: Jordana at November 21, 2005 12:13 AMOuch! Glad you are both okay :) I did this once with Andrew--my bloody elbows were nothing compared to the surge of maternal adrenalin I had for hours afterward.
Posted by: Meredith at November 21, 2005 09:02 AMSorry about the swelling and brusing but I think that smile from Baby paid you in full for the ruined cords.
Posted by: Roberta S at November 23, 2005 02:49 PMBeen missing your updates...I guess maybe you guys are away for the holiday?
Hope whatever it is it is a fun time!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Mary at November 25, 2005 11:37 AM
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator