After a trip to the Dr's. office today (the elbow is coming along nicely, "keep up the good work") we arrived home around 3:30. Typically, this is naptime for P2 and The Prince, but they had taken care of that business earlier and were ready to...PLLLLAAAAAY! So, i opened the backdoor and they all blew out with the fresh afternoon breeze.
HRHTDP comes back within a few minutes, "Daddy, will you push me on the swing?"
"Sure, hold on a second, i'll be out in a few minutes."
I finished up getting out some pork ribs for a lo mein dinner.
They were all gathered under the tree waiting for me to 'come out and play'. HRHTDP already sitting patiently on the swing, giggling with each closer step...she was ready.
I pull her back and release, giving her a slight push and she accelerates quickly down and then arcs upwards towards the lowest branches that are about 14 feet above the ground at the point where the pendulum ends postive energy. She stretches out her toes to tries and touch the leaves...not...quite...enough. Gravity takes charge and negative kinetic energy ensues. She accelerates back towards me, giggling the entire way...and the entire process resets and runs again a few more times. Its P2's turn...
P2, not quite the adrenaline junkie that her older sister is, bubbles a laugh as i pull her back and release not quite as high. I try a couple times to get her to the same level. She says she's ready to get off and i push her one more time...
Had i known what was going to happen next i would've grabbed her instantly and eased her gently down...
She accelerates downward and back up, when she gets to the point of greatest outward force, the knot for some reason loosens...completely. At ten feet in the air she is in a free fall...i gasp, unable to do anything but watch from almost 20 feet away. She falls helplessly, landing broadside into a hogwire panel that actually cushioned her fall and she rolled down it into the grass. I was already running as she started to scream. Quickly gathering her into my arms after instantly determining there was no further harm in doing so, i took her into the house, lay her down on the couch and proceeded the full exam...
She was obviously crying and very shaken, but answered all my "Does this hurt?" questions as i gingerly moved all possible joints in the arms and legs...to my relief, all answers were "No"...or a shake of the head. Thankfully, nothing but a couple scrapes and scratches. Three minutes later, "Daddy, can i just go ride my bike?"
She's fine.
Usually, after all the adrenaline wears off, i get the shakes, but not this time, just a feeling of complete thankfulness for mercy, not only for her safety, but for my stupidity in not securing that swing better. That little detail will be soon remedied, and we won't be swinging that high anymore.
3 comments:
The absolute worst ow-ies are the ones that are either your fault, or the ones you could/should have prevented. Don't ask how I know this... suffice to say I have more a lil bit of experience in this space.
It's a great good thing there's no serious damage.
Three minutes later, "Daddy, can i just go ride my bike?"
Their resilience amazes me. I'm glad she's okay...just as glad to hear of your thankfulness.
Wanna hear something freaky, Jay? Last week, my three year old niece decided to launch herself from a swing at full height. She's now wearing a cast from hip to toe. Same equipment, different cause, same week, still freaky.
Post a Comment