Blood, running down a face or a leg or an arm, is what I’m talking about. Heaven knows I’ve seen enough of it, raising these boys. Stitches too numerous to count. Bandaids, gauze, and gallons of isopropyl alcohol poured foamy white into hundreds of gashes.
The worst of it is always before I know what the injury is. There’s blood, there are hands covering, there might or might not be wailing. The pleading, don’t touch, don’t touch, don’t touch! And the feeling I get in my gut, before I know whether there has been severing or puncturing or just what it is I’ll be dealing with… that’s the worst.
Once I know what I’ve got, I’m usually okay.
Except for the last time. For some reason, the blood stopped me in my tracks. The I’m bleeding, and the trail of red from the basement to the sink, and the pouring of it down his face, and the thinking he might have lost an eye or something. It put me right down, my head between my knees.
I’m thinking it’s because his dad was here. Dad was available and took charge and I didn’t have to fight past that I can’t do this feeling. So I was able to be the weak that I was feeling.
I’m thinking this is what it was.
I’m still not used to him being here. I’m still adjusting to the two-parents-dealing-with-stuff thing.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the blood. But having the man around? Oh yeah.
November 15, 2012 at 9:35 am
Me either. I have this weird automatic reaction to seeing blood, I faint. It’s very inconvenient when it happens. The funny part is I can’t control my reaction in anyway. It just happens… Sigh!
November 15, 2012 at 9:37 am
This was a first for me.
November 15, 2012 at 10:39 am
Man, this was so me. Other children’s horrible injuries found me running clear-headed, capable and taking charge. My own? Reduced me to a blithering idiot and left Dad the one to take care of details. You’ve had a lot of emotions on your plate these days, I’m certain that the clear-headed, capable, taking charge woman is still there inside, just feeling a bit weary this week, perhaps. Praying for you today.
November 15, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Thank you for your prayers and grateful for the encouragement, as always!
November 15, 2012 at 10:41 am
Heads bleed so much! My kids are both very cautious. touch wood I have not had to face more than a graze with them.
Yes it is wonderful having a parenting team isn’t it and being able to be the weak you are feeling ( or in my case the too girly too.. too lazy too… or the I might just get away with this…)
So was he ok? what was it?
November 15, 2012 at 12:55 pm
He’s fine. The gash was in his eyebrow. Probably could have used stitches but Lyndon just taped it as it shouldn’t show much when it heals.
November 16, 2012 at 9:33 am
I have taped bits of myself together before now. works a treat lol
November 16, 2012 at 10:34 am
Saves a trip to emergency and the whole needle and stitches drama. Although he may end up with an eyebrow that is kind of split by a scar.
November 15, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Janelle, I totally think it’s the fact that Dad is there! I do the same thing! If I’m in charge, I deal with it, but if Dave’s there, I just yell “Dave!” and step back and act like I’ve never seen blood before. It’s so weird, but I too love having him here for those moments.
November 15, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Yes, they come in handy from time to time!
November 15, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I don’t think you ever get used to seeing your kids hurt, ever. Blood, scrapes, bruises, emotional, physical, it all tears a mom’s heart out. So glad he is okay. Butterfly bandages work wonders, and Dad’s are there to make Mom’s feel secure.
November 15, 2012 at 5:12 pm
We have the worlds biggest supply of bandaids of all shapes and sizes!
November 15, 2012 at 4:52 pm
He sounds like ‘his father’s son’. Lyndon had his head split open (just above the eye) on the edge of a coffee table when he was about 1 1/2 years old and then another cut just about in the same spot when he fell & a stone punctured the same spot (stitches both times). Also, there was the dog bit when he was 3 that punctured holes in his cheeks & ears (more stitches plus 14 rabies shots). I’m glad those days are over!
November 15, 2012 at 5:13 pm
He is most definitely his fathers son. The most like him of all the boys I think.