Lesson learned

[limewave]

. . . and thankfully without any serious consequences!

DH and I went for a bike ride this weekend, just tooling around the neighborhood. He had DS (just turning 2 this weekend ) in the trailer. I was demoing a new 29er.

We were having fun just riding around and chatting. I kept looking back and watching DS play in the trailer: leaning way forward and then bouncing back in the seat (read: not strapped in securely and wearing no helmet).

I was taking curbs and jumps and weaving, testing out the 29er capabilities. DH decided he wanted to have "fun" too and took a curb (we were going at a fast clip).

And then I heard the crash and the metal scraping on the road! I cannot tell you how awful I felt in that instant. I KNEW DS did not have a helmet on and was not strapped in. When I turned to look and saw the trailer on its side and skidding across the road (and not hearing and screaming or crying) . . . everything just stopped.

All DH said was that "he fell right on his head"

I ran to my baby and scooped him up. Then he started crying. A couple was out walking their dog and DS cried that he wanted to pet the puppy. Phew! No visible markings on his head, just a red ear. No bumps or scrapes. That night he kept asking for ice for his ear and talking about crashing in the "tent" bike. Fortunately he is unscathed! I start crying just thinking about this. I had the dry heaves most of the night I had been so scared.

Normally I would pitch a little fit about DS not being strapped in securely or wearing a helmet, but DH always says I'm "overprotective" and gives me a bunch a grief about worrying. I didn't say anything before we left. I really wish I would have made a fuss. It's totally worth the eye-rolling and overprotective comments.

I made a trip to the LBS and got DS the cutest, toughest, littlest Shark helmet. He loves it so much, he hasn't taken it off since I gave it to him.

[lauraelmore1033]

Someone once told me that your children are your heart, walking around in the world. so when something happens, it hurts deeply, palpably. I've had feelings similar to yours on more than one occasion, and the feeling of culpability is really hard to take. Yeah, lesson learned...

[hebe]

You must have felt awful. I'm so relieved that your boy is ok and that he loves his new helmet. Thinking of you.

[Grits]

Thank you for sharing. Your experience will make others remember or (or risk ridicule) to make sure their little ones are secure and helmeted.

[AppleTree]

Limewave, I know what you are feeling. My first son (now 32 and doing just great!) fell off his babyseat, in which he was sitting on the table...unstrapped. He decided to learn how to roll out at the exact moment I stepped away to get something. He was about 4 months old I think. I will never forget the sound his head made as it hit the terraza floor... By the time we got him to the emergency room (the doctor said "just as a precaution") he was just FINE, but I was an absolute wreck.

Life has so many lessons for us, and luckily we manage to survive most of them!

[marni]

thank goodness your son in ok and congratulations on his new helmet. Just make sure he always always wears it. As for your other making fun of your worries, calling you over protective, try a dramatic presentation. Take an egg, hold it in the air, and say this is your brain in your head without a helmet. Drop the egg and as you clean up the mess say "and this is your brain in and out of your head, on the ground without a helmet.

Best example I have is the cracked and shattered helmet from a fall (broken ribs, collapsed lung, road rash but no concussion) which I keep around to show people why they need a helmet.

marni

[Pedal Wench]

...try a dramatic presentation. ...

I do that too. I work at a large NBS (national bike shop - you know, the one with the green vests!) and whenever someone says that they don't need a helmet because they're just riding in a park, or on a bike path - I tell them that concrete is concrete. Then standing next to them, I say, "Imagine if I had a cantaloupe, right up here next to your head. What happens when I drop it on this nice concrete floor." I let go of our imaginary melon, and 9 times out of 10, they'll step back to avoid the mess of the imaginary melon smashing onto the floor. Then we go pick out a nice new helmet.