It’s not often that I get to share pearls of parenting wisdom, mainly because I am a low rent, parenting harlot who will fob her children off on any passing person over five feet tall who has a pulse and all their own teeth. Nevertheless, every now and again I rub up against the coal face of parenting and feel that when these events happen, that I should share them for your edification and moral well being.
As you may be aware, I fear exercise, fresh air, the countryside (except when viewed through the windows of a speeding car as it makes its way to the urban jungle), and most outdoor activities. If I take the children out it is usually to a shop, or a cafe, or a museum, or a library. If forced I will take them to the park, but I can’t like it (as Tallulah used to say).
Today it was the usual freezing quagmire outside. My mother, who was babysitting the children for us until lunch time today, mulled over all the options available to her and decided on a bracing walk. Across the road from her house is a footpath which leads to fields, and she decided that it would be the ideal time to take the kids there. For some reason she also decided that despite the snow/lashing rain of the last few days that it would not be muddy. There were no wellingtons/appropriate footwear choices apparent, and they all set off into the wilds of nature.
Approximately fifteen minutes later my poor mum slipped over in a giant lake of mud and managed to do serious damage to her ankle, unsupported as it was by any stout footwear as she had chosen to embark on her wilderness ramble wearing ballet flats. Ours is not to reason why.
Luckily my dad had accompanied them and managed to help her home, otherwise she’d probably still be lying in the mud with the children astride her in case they sank.
We arrived to pick the children up as she was hobbling round the kitchen in agony, trying to put a brave face on things. We packed her off to the hospital with a flea in her ear.
It turns out that she has a severe sprain and has torn her ligaments. At this point, due to the absolutely shoddy quality of the x-ray, they are unable to determine if she has also fractured her ankle. If it is still killing her in a week she has to go back for them to try and take a better x-ray image. She has to be off her feet for five days and it will take six to seven weeks for her to heal properly.
Poor bugger.
I feel rather guilty because it came about in the pursuit of entertaining my offspring.
But I also feel that there is a moral to this tale, which is, when faced with the dilemma of taking the children out for tea and cakes or a bracing country walk, go for the tea and cakes every time.
Mmm, very questionable footwear choices. I do hope it is not a fracture and that she will be recovered quickly.
Personally, I don’t mind the open air too much as long as it is flat and paved. A shop, pub or restaurant often helps too.
Oh-your poor Mum-I hope she gets better soon and has some impressive painkillers.I think there’s enough air in shops and museums without going outside to look for it.
Alienne
The swelling is going down but she will not sit still, so who knows. Questionable footwear indeed.
Jenny
She has some, whether she will take them or not is an entirely different matter!