Feeling really really guilty now!

[Cubist]

Mum's home now, so they're lapping up the fuss, and I'm banished to the computer room.........

Cubester has decided to write into his favourite mag extolling the virtues of helmets. I think he's hoping for a freebie!

 

[tyred]

I don't think you should feel guilty about anything. There is a habit of wrapping children up in cotton wool these days. It's better they get out and about and learn the lessons in life.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I don't think you should feel guilty about anything. There is a habit of wrapping children up in cotton wool these days. It's better they get out and about and learn the lessons in life.

Right enough, but it doesn't sound like Cubist is guilty of wrapping them in cotton wool. And it's natural enough to feel guilty / sorry / upset when you're looking after them and they damage themselves.

 

[Willow]

must admit I sent my 12 year old back for bus fare yesterday decided having seen the gritter go past not to risk it. The 10 year old has a steep hill to go down, I go down it at 37mph so always telling him to take a slow break on the way as it's only single road in one place. I'm always glad to see them arrive home at the end of the day. Last thing I need is my ex telling me told you so.

Glad it hasn't put them off though it might put you off letting them.

 

[yoyo]

Cubist,
What a dreadful day for you! Am so pleased that ' all's well that ends well'. You must be so proud of your twins and how they handled what must have been very frightening incident.

 

[Cubist]

I don't think you should feel guilty about anything. There is a habit of wrapping children up in cotton wool these days. It's better they get out and about and learn the lessons in life.

Thanks tyred, I am a great believer in letting them learn the hard way, but sometimes even I think I overdo the pushy Dad bit. I once made Cubester go to rugby training a week after he supposedly sprained his ankle skateboarding. He gave up halfway though because it hurt too much, and a few days later we were recalled to the hospital 'cause they'd reviewed the X rays and found a fracture after all.

 

[Andy in Sig]

It will have done them the world of good in that it should make them cycle more sensibly from now on. It was also good that you let them carry on because stopping them could have undermined their confidence. They sound like tough kids.

 

[Cubist]

It will have done them the world of good in that it should make them cycle more sensibly from now on. It was also good that you let them carry on because stopping them could have undermined their confidence. They sound like tough kids.

Genau, stimmt!

You know the saying "Yorkshire born and Yorkshire bred?"

 

[summerdays]

Cubist - hopefully they will have learnt from their experience. Telling people what to do or not do is never quite as good as experiencing it

One of the kids at school had a lovely cracked helmet to show for coming off today on the way to school - he had slipped on black ice.

 

[PpPete]

it should make them cycle more sensibly from now on.

11 year olds.... don't count it !

I well remember coming off as a youngster (maybe 8 or 9 y.o.) when I hit a pothole in pavement at a measured 25kph - my mother having been persuaded to drive along adjacent road to see how fast I could go .
Now at well past 70 years old she still has worse memories of that incident than I do, and it made me cycle more sensibly for all of about.....30 minutes.

Now my kids scare me with their antics on bikes, on skis, at rock-climbing, at everything they do. Big falls, stitches, broken bones... NOTHING stops them bouncing back for more. I occasionally get that "look" from my mum as though to say - "now you what it feels like"

Seriously though, glad the little cubes (and their bikes) are OK.

 

[Scoosh]

About a year ago, C+ mag had a feature on '10 things to do to improve your cycling'. One of them was "Fall off" ! The principle being that the thought is always/usually worse than the reality, so once you've done it, you know it doesn't hurt THAT much, so you are a little more brave (foolish ) the next time.

Sounds like that box is well ticked ! For their next trick .....

Glad they are OK and chapeau for their attitude - and to you for telling us about it.

How long it takes you to recover, is different. Even when they are 30, they'll still be telling tales of "the time when we .... " but will you have escaped being the villain by then ?

 

[Cubist]

Thanks to all for your concern! Mrs C has finally calmed down. What really helped was that the kids told her off for making such a fuss, and insisted that I was not to blame in all of this.

Yes, I am proud of them, they are determined and as some have said, tough.

I don't ever want to see them have that sort of crash again, but am resigned to the fact that they are always prepared to have a go at any challenge, often egging each other on, and we have had several family evenings in A&E already.

I have had a couple of moments of deep thought, and believe fate or a higher entity made me change my mind and follow them down today. Having just had a real scream getting Cubette into the bath wearing the waterproof leg cover left over from the last time Cubester had his leg in plaster brought it all home to me: Yes, it was awful to watch, and could have been so much worse, but a few stitches and funny coloured bruises are all that really came of it. I shall be offering a few prayers of thanks tonight.

The real irony of it all? I have recently secured a fleet of bikes for my team, and today four of us were booked in for Bikeability training with the local Council's Cycling Officers. I missed that and now can't ride one the bikes thanks to my own H&S risk assessment............. Bugger!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Glad they're both ok. I admire you for not wrapping them in cotton wool and I hope this doesn't put you off allowing them to try it again!

 

[mickle]

They sound like great kids. With a great dad.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

Don't feel guilty. Unfortunately some lessons are learned the hard way despite our best efforts to pass on our own certain knowledge. My kids have certainly been no strangers to stitches and glue.

I am impressed though. Were they going to cycle back up the hill at the end of their school day, accident notwhithstanding?