I wrote a while back about how my town works when crisis hits. How friends, neighbors and strangers come out of the woodwork to make life happen while those inflicted with temporary – or life altering – chaos contemplate the next few hours, days, weeks, and months.
Listen folks: my kid broke his arm. Snapped it in half, right above the elbow. It was nasty, gross and made his dad gag, but he’s not the first kid to snap a bone, and he’s certainly not the last. His sports season is over, skiing kaput, and he’s panicked about recess kickball.
These are great problems to have. I LOVE these problems.
When we were in the hospital and he’s chillin’ on morphine, and asks, “You think I’ll get presents?”
To which I reply adamantly: “Nope. No way. Skull fractures and cancer gets presents, you get time off from school and a cast.” (Okay, probably not my best parenting moment…. more to come no doubt.)
But then my town happened, as it always does. I expect it for crisis, but I didn’t expect it for me. For us. For a nasty break, but ridiculously, embarrassingly healthy family. My mistake.
Lots of love through this blog, emails, voicemails, and texts. All read to #4. Visits with movies, candy, cards, and ice cream. Cupcakes to die for. A fancy, beautiful fruit arrangement arrives addressed to my broken armed kid. With a balloon.
Forget the morphine. My town offers the best rehab for what ails you. Thanks. It does take a village to heal a child, and calm an anxious mom.
Sorry you’ve got a broken arm in your embarrassingly healthy home, but sometimes we need to be reminded of the goodness in others in this otherwise cynical world….Women are mostly compassionate beings, especially where wounded dogs and children are concerned~
Get well soon!!
You make me laugh! Save some cupcakes for me! They look delicious!!! Love you!!!
#1
It is great to hear that there are still towns like that.