Idiots on Ice!

[AdamAnt316]

Here in the New England area, we've gotten a bit of snow over the past couple of weeks. The sidewalk outside my boss's office (which my boss doesn't use as often as he used to, often working out of his home) had been cleared by some sort of large-tired vehicle, but some snow was left in its tracks, and even though some of it melted in the (relative) warm weather we had earlier this week, the cold came back yesterday, and what was left had turned to ice.

While visiting said office to get the mail, I noticed this, and decided to put down some sand to prevent anyone from falling down. As I was getting the bag o' sand ready, I saw some kids (off from school thanks to February vacation) deliberately sliding across the ice patch! Once they'd gone past (thankfully without falling down), I hauled the sand bag outside, and put down a liberal coating. No sooner had I finished, the kids came back around, and the following exchange took place:

Kid: Guess we're not sliding around out here...
Me: You're damn right!
Kid: (sheepishly) Thank you...

Gotta love it when a plan comes together...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

When I was in grade school, large patches of ice were a kid magnet. There would be a bunch of kids slipping and sliding around on it. The teachers didn't care as long as nobody got hurt and everybody had their boots and snow pants on.

It was a simpler time.

[MoonCat]

When I was in grade school, large patches of ice were a kid magnet. There would be a bunch of kids slipping and sliding around on it. The teachers didn't care as long as nobody got hurt and everybody had their boots and snow pants on.

It was a simpler time.

Yeah, that was when we were young, flexible, and didn't have as far to fall.

Now I'm terrified of trying to walk over ice.

[Seshat]

Reminds me of a conversation between me and my mother when my niece was starting to learn to walk. (About one and a half.)

Ashleigh fell down, and I darted over, all terrified she'd hurt herself.

Mum "Don't worry, she's fine."
Me "But..."
Mum "She's got a lot of padding on her butt."

[Aragarthiel]

Ashleigh fell down, and I darted over, all terrified she'd hurt herself.

Mum "Don't worry, she's fine."
Me "But..."
Mum "She's got a lot of padding on her butt."

My daughter's about that age (a couple months older), and 9 times out of 10 if she falls and it looks like she hurt herself, she'll just get up with a shocked look on her face and say either "Bonk!" or "Boom!" depending on how she fell. We recently went up to a local attraction since they make their own snow there, and near the entrances the snow had been packed down into ice by so many people walking over it. There were lots of "Boom!"s that day.

[Nunavut Pants]

I used to love sliding on ice patches when I was in high school. And college. And after that, too... (Though I moved to an area where ice patches are few and far between.)

[AdamAnt316]

I should clarify a bit: The ice patch in question was rather bumpy, so it probably wouldn't have taken much effort to take a nasty spill. And in today's litigious society, one can never be too careful, as the multitude of stupid-sounding warnings on products constantly reminds us...
-Adam
(I had no idea cans of peanuts may contain nuts!)

[Terza]

Reminds me of a conversation between me and my mother when my niece was starting to learn to walk. (About one and a half.)

Ashleigh fell down, and I darted over, all terrified she'd hurt herself.

Mum "Don't worry, she's fine."
Me "But..."
Mum "She's got a lot of padding on her butt."

The first time my DD fell down outside the house, my Dad was with us. DD cried out (is shock rather than injury) and Dad looked down and said "What are you doing down there?" DD said "I fell over!" and Dad said "What'd you go and do a silly thing like that for?"
It made DD laugh, and we have employed that method every time she fell over since then, unless she was seriously injured (which was very seldom, and no more than bruises/grazes). Now, every time she falls over, she announces "I'm ok!"

[notalwaysright]

It made DD laugh, and we have employed that method every time she fell over since then, unless she was seriously injured (which was very seldom, and no more than bruises/grazes). Now, every time she falls over, she announces "I'm ok!"

My parents were always calm when I fell. If I was really hurt I'd either be silent or start laughing. If I was okay I'd pause and announce "there!" like I had done it on purpose. I also did this when I broke or spilled things, I'm told. But I guess my mom was calm deliberately because she had watched so many parents actually make things worse when they overreacted to every tiny little thing. I'm not saying I have any idea what it's like to see a child fall or whatever, just that it was a conscious decision to minimize freak outs.

[Kogarashi]

But I guess my mom was calm deliberately because she had watched so many parents actually make things worse when they overreacted to every tiny little thing.

I've heard that advice myself when I was expecting my first, and have seen it quite a bit in practice too. If you overreact, the child gets the impression that every fall is worth bawling over and the end of the world, because obviously Mom and Dad freaked out.

Which is why I took the "mommy kisses" approach instead. When my kids get hurt, I'm sympathetic, but I don't act like their leg is going to fall off or anything. Plus I've convinced my kids that a kiss from Mommy on the boo-boo will make it all better (and if it's something more than just a little bruise, like say a cut with blood and everything, then I'll calmly clean and bandage it for them). So now, sure, my 4- and 6-year-olds may trip and bonk their elbows or foreheads or something, and sure it'll hurt and they'll cry, but most of the time all I have to do is kiss it once and they sniffle and calm down. Even my 9-year-old will occasionally ask for a kiss if something hurts.

[Tanasi]

My granddaughter (3.5) has a few different things she says or does when she falls:
"Taaaa-Daaaa"
"I was acting!!!"
She puts her hands in air like the gymnasts do after they preform.
It's real cute most of time but she does tend to over do it at times.
Her brother on the other hand (2) is a squaller and he passes no opportunity to do so.

[Seshat]

"Mumma kisses" also gives you the chance to see the owie, just in case it actually is serious.

[Kogarashi]

"Mumma kisses" also gives you the chance to see the owie, just in case it actually is serious.

This exactly. You can inspect the injury calmly and then react appropriately, instead of having a squalling child who thinks overreactions are necessary.