Dinner without Crayons » Colleen

She still has three colors to go

Erinn — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:28:58 +0000

Colleen got her cast off yesterday, the third in four months. (Although to be fair, there were two different ones for the first break.) She is officially half-way through the rainbow of cast colors the doctor’s office offers. The doctor explained (again) that it takes 6-9 months for the bone to completely heal, so Colleen still needs to steer clear of high-risk activities like scooters, trampolines, monkey bars, etc. “But since Colleen broke it both times falling in the grass…. well, good luck!”

Did I mention that it is the fifth week of school and Colleen has already had three trips to the nurse’s office? (Two for head bumps that needed ice, once for tripping and landing on her cast. Yeah, that one worries me a little.)

Is it possible to duct tape her arm back into the cast when she plays outside? May be worth a try.

Maybe if you lie a little more quietly I’ll believe you

Erinn — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:18:34 +0000

It’s Friday afternoon. Tommy and Mike are at baseball practice and I’m trying to relax on the couch, Toddlers & Tiaras on the TV, Us Weekly in my lap. (Yet only iced tea in the cup next to me — strange.) Kaylee and Colleen come running in with a friend asking for a snack. With 20 minutes until dinner and two children notorious for being “full” at mealtimes, I just couldn’t give in. All three very politely said OK and went to play in Kaylee and Colleen’s room. Sensing a disturbance in the force, I mute the TV and turn an ear toward the bedroom. Yep, that’s definitely a chewing sound. That I can hear from DOWNSTAIRS.

“Are you eating candy up there?” Silence.

“ARE YOU EATING CANDY UP THERE????”

Suddenly I realize they can’t answer me because their mouths are too full of candy. But all too soon they swallow and the silence is broken:

“I’m not but they are!” “You were too!” “You said you wouldn’t tell!” “You promised!” “Stop yelling at me!” Crying and screaming over each other. At this point I’m wishing I had just let them have the damn candy.

Friend goes home. Kaylee and Colleen sulkily eat dinner. TV and magazine go unwatched and unread. But I think I’ll have that glass of wine now.

One-track mind

Erinn — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:17:32 +0000

Now that Kaylee and Colleen are in first grade, they do writing exercises every day. At back to school night, we parents got to read what they’ve been writing about. Kaylee’s stories had many different topics, from soccer to the zoo to an upcoming birthday party. Colleen, on the other hand, wrote about one thing: animals. Our pets, her Grammy’s pets, animals in shelters, playing with animals, etc. I was wondering if this would be a problem, until I (nosily, I admit) peeked at the desk next to Colleen’s. The little boy’s mom had written a note to him: “I love your stories, but do you think you can write about anything other than football?” Apparently, for a 6-year-old, it’s a fine line between passion and obsession.

Full-body bubble wrap, STAT!

Erinn — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:02:50 +0000

Six-year-old Colleen was riding piggy back on a friend (a fellow six-year-old, we’re not talking giants) when she fell on into the grass and hurt her arm. Neighbors brought her home crying.

Mommy said, “I’ll get you some ice and you can snuggle with me until you feel better.”

Daddy said, “I think she needs to go to the ER.”

Good thing Colleen has two parents. She broke the radial bone in her right arm. Motherly instinct my butt.

After three weeks in a full arm cast, two and a half more in a half cast, Colleen was free! For 12 days. When she tripped over her feet and fell in the grass. And hurt her arm. Neighbors brought her home crying. Sound familiar?

This time, Mommy skipped the ice and went to the ER. Broken again. Four more weeks in a full arm cast.

So I ask you, after all that has happened in the grass, is it so unreasonable to recommend Colleen play in the street?

A side note to Tommy: I apologize. Had I known Colleen would break her arm twice in two months, I would have bet big money you would have been involved. Maybe next time.