But It REALLY Hurts, Mom!

My son, Timothy, came home yesterday from school holding his arm next to his side, complaining that he hurt it playing football at recess. I asked him what happened to it, and he proceeded to tell me this long, drawn-out story of how the other boys were playing "tackle" football even though they weren't supposed to, and he got tackled, falling on his arm. While he's telling the story, his arm miraculously worked again, demonstrating exactly how it happened.

When the story was finished, he looked at me with sad, pain-stricken eyes and asked me if I could wrap it with a "cast". I said, "Cast? We'd have to go to the doctor for that. I don't think you need a cast." He said, "No Mom! That stretchy, brown thing that you wrap around your arm when it hurts!"

The Ace bandage. I told him I didn't think he'd need that either, but he insisted. "It REALLY hurts, Mom!" He emphasized really dramatically. So, I found the bandage and wrapped it for him. He spent the rest of the night holding his arm, and when he thought someone was paying attention, he'd gasp in pain or rub it and say "Ouch!" I let him sleep with it on.

It had come unwrapped a little during the night, and this morning when he got up, he wanted me to re-wrap it for him. I told him that it was probably okay to leave it unwrapped for school today. I could only imagine him at school trying to get ready for recess or carrying his lunch tray with only one hand. I knew it didn't hurt him anymore. I'd seen him using it the entire evening last night when he'd forget about it, or when he thought no one was looking.

But he insisted again. Rather than start a fight first thing in the morning (He's NOT a morning person to begin with!), I let him wear it to school. I even helped him get ready this morning. I helped him get dressed and get his shoes on. I think he liked the extra attention.

When we were all ready and waiting for the bus, I told him, "I think your arm will be fine by tomorrow. I don't think you'll need to wear that to school tomorrow." He nodded in agreement. "You're probably right, Mom. It's starting to feel better already."