Kathy's Chaos: Never a Good Time

It only took me 40 years to break a bone. I wasn’t watching where I was walking. I didn’t see the dip and my foot rolled. My husband knew it right away.

“It’s broken.”

“NO! I can’t have a broken bone!”

This just doesn’t fit into the schedule. This isn’t on my agenda. This is not something I have time for right now. This is so inconvenient.

I refused to believe it was true.

That is until it started to swell, until it started to really hurt and until I  couldn’t put any weight on it.

My friend offered to watch my kids. My oldest daughter was in a panic and started crying. “I am so worried about you!”

“I’m going to be fine.” But inside I was worried right along with her.

Although it was an unlucky day, I was fortunate that my husband happened to have the day off. He drove me to the emergency room where I was given the wonderful news that it was a fracture (of my cuboid bone, in case you are wondering). Good news was that I didn’t need surgery. I was evaluated and splinted up in less than two hours and sent home with a pair of crutches.

The doctors called for RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. That’s easier said than done.

Before I broke my foot, I would have given anything for someone to tell me to sit around with my feet up while people bring me whatever I want. Be careful what you wish for.

Sure I have more time to work on my computer, watch every show on TLC, text everyone I know and start some new games of Words with Friends. But what I really want to do is go for a run on the boardwalk. I want to run upstairs and throw in a load of laundry and stand in the kitchen and cook dinner.

I am an optimist however. I can’t help but try to find the positive side of the situation: I have great friends and family who have helped in so many ways; my oldest daughter learned to make scrambled eggs by herself; she also emptied the dishwasher and has been a true support for me; I have a renewed appreciation for my husband – he is a very good caregiver and has been so kind; and at least this happened at the end of summer versus the beginning.

This kind of situation or any others like it that parents face is tough. Despite how bummed or scared I am about what’s happening, I put on a happy face for my kids. I am proud of how they have risen to the occasion. They don’t know that I am secretly keeping a list of all of the chores they are doing right now to be so helpful. Once I am walking again, I will remind them of all they are capable of around here.

It’s never a convenient time for a mom to get injured or sick. It’s just something we have to get through and hopefully come out the other side a little stronger than before.