It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Breaks an Arm

Early this spring, Tyson achieved a pretty important milestone for a 4 year old; he learned how to cross the monkey bars.The accomplishment didn't come easy for his spindly little arms. It took weeks of practice and hundreds of attempts with my arms cradled underneath him. He yelled at me that he could do it himself. He yelled at me to watch him try again. He fell and I caught him. Lots.

And then one day, I watched as his tiny biceps carried him across the 8 rungs to the other side successfully.

The monkey bars quickly became a favorite at the park. So much so that I let my guard down when he would go on them. I quit running underneath him with my arms out. I quit worrying about him falling.

Last week, at our tiny neighborhood park, I sat on the bench and helped Mila fix her shoe. I glanced up to see Tyson on the monkey bars-two rungs in. He started to struggle, slipped and lost his grip. He fell face first into the mulch.

It happened so fast.

There were tears. And whimpering. I wiped the mulch off of his face and out of his mouth as he told me he hurt his arm. He was able to move it without limitation and there were no external injuries visible, but he continued to whimper. Tyson doesn't whimper. I had a sinking feeling.

After a quick trip to urgent care (with a certain 2 year old currently obsessed with Doc Mcstuffins who would not stop yelling, "TIME FOR YOUR CHECKUP!"), we confirmed what I had feared- he had broken his elbow.

Because I let my guard down.

For the next 3 weeks of summer, Tyson will miss out on swimming with his friends. He'll miss out on splash pads and sprinklers and the hot tub. He'll miss his last week of hockey practice and probably won't be able to sign up for T-ball. He won't be able to ride his bike or his scooter with his friends. He can't tube at the cabin or jump off the boat.

That's a lot of Mommy guilt to swallow. I might need a glass of wine (or two) to wash it down.

I could wallow in the Mommy guilt (and wine!), but I've decided to focus on the positive. For the next 3 weeks of summer, Tyson will also learn how to be resilient, patient, and tough. He'll learn how to rely on others when he needs to. He'll learn to problem solve and think outside of the box. He'll learn new ways of doing old things. He'll learn how to ask for help.

 

He's a fast study. Also, clearly he will never learn to be careful.

While the Cats are Away.....

Naturally, while Tyson was spending a weekend camping with the in-laws and Daddy was slaving away at a candy show, Mila and I attempted to empty the bank account one stop at a time.

Ahem.

On our first ever girl's weekend, we really whooped it up. 2 year old style. Mall of America rides, American Girl Café, at attempt at ear piercing, lots of mannequin hugging, a little bit of shopping, and her first ever movie.

I had dreamt of days like this since the minute the ultrasound tech announced that our second would be a girl (minus the mannequin hugging). I imagined the secrets she will let slip out as we walk through the mall, the hand I will need to hold when she decides she really wants her ear pierced, the way she will look at me to see if I approve of an outfit, the lunches we will share, the chick-flicks we will watch and the little girl I will try so hard to hang onto.

It was every bit as magical as I had dreamt it would be.

Camping

Have I mentioned I don't camp? I mean like I s'mores. And bonfires. But, I also like mattresses and air conditioning. Also, I'm not fond of bugs and dirt and I enjoy a hot shower every morning. For the past 4 years, I've graciously bowed out of any camping trips we've been invited on because, "the babies wouldn't do well in a tent."

My babies are now 4 and 2. And the 4 year old has been begging us to take him camping for at least a year.

Remind me to come up with a new excuse.

This year, my in-laws offered to take Tyson with on their annual camping trip. In an effort to please the 4 year old and still allow myself the liberty of a hot shower, I jumped at the offer before I realized what I agreed to.

My baby boy. His first trip away from home. For a whole weekend. Without us.

Gulp.

Tyson had a complete blast and, despite my many questions, he has yet to remember everything they did. Each and every time I called (and I called a LOT) he had no desire to talk to me. He mumbled "Me too" when I told him I loved him. I worried about him for 48 hours straight. He came home tired, a little stinky and totally crabby.

It was like a crash course for his teenage years.

The good news? We both survived.

A few pictures I was sent from his Auntie Lisa so I could piece together all of the fun they were having without us:

Remind me to ask Auntie Lisa if she'll accompany him to college and send me pictures so I can piece together the fun he has there too. Sure made the whole weekend away thing easier on me.

I'm off to google other excuses I can use to avoid camping.