Wear a helmet

[bshumake]

I'm a week late posting about this, i'm a week late on just about everything actually.
If you have kids, grandkids, etc. in you life, get them a helmet. You never know when you'll need one. My youngest went over the handlebars of his bike last Sunday and hit the asphalt face first. Long story short, he lost three front teeth and get 6 stitches, 2 in his head. 2 he wouldn't have needed if I had bought him a helmet. I never had one growing up so I didn't think much of them. But I also never had an accident like this either. It's been a long week of half-days at work, applying neosporin, checking healing processes and dealing with a banged up 6 year old who's friends were afraid of him and wouldn't play with him because of his injuries.
So, however YOU might feel about a helmet, get over it and think about THEM.
B

 

[Rudolph]

I never had a helmet growing up either so I fully understand. Not much worse than seeing your child hurt. Glad to hear he is okay.

 

[chuckasomas]

lost my front teeth the same way when I was a lil :angryfire:raiser

 

[AVDweeb]

I lost a good friend because he didn't wear a helmet and got hit by a car. I straight up harass my friends if they don't wear a helmet now!

 

[BassandReef]

Wow I have a six year old. I cringe just thinking of what you are giung through. I wish him a speedly recovery. I am glad that it wasn't worse.

 

[Reef264]

Sorry that happened to him, going over the bars is no bueno.

 

[Sunshine252]

So sorry to hear that! I have a 21 yr old son & when he was little everyone gave me a hard time for making him wear one. Thankfully he never needed it but stories like yours are why my 2 & 3 year olds will wear them too - naysayers be darned! LOL

 

[keaton]

Oh my Barrett!!! That's tough...quit beating yourself up though.

When Keaton and his big sister were growing up, I was (and continue to be) a helmet nazi. My husband is an expert level mountain biker and has been riding/racing since Keaton was an infant. We clipped helmets to our kid's TRICYCLE handlebars for crying out loud. When the helmet is clipped to the bars, there's no question about where the helmet is and of course they have to remove it to ride. Helmet "compliance" has never been an issue in my house. We even shamed neighbors into making their kids wear them.

Keaton was an expert in the injury department with three broken bones, two imbedded fish hooks, countless stitches, foreign objects in the eye, burns, twisted ankles, etc., etc. This was in spite of my relentless demands for him to wear helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, safety glasses, ear plugs, leather motorcycle gear, gloves, etc., etc.

I said all that to say while wearing a helmet is the most important thing a parent can teach a child that is riding a bike, roller blading, or skateboarding...I can assure you that they will find a way to get hurt. And as my wise ortho specialist said after repairing Keaton's compound fracture (yikes!), "I'd rather that they get banged up once in a while than to spend their childhood playing video games!" Soooo, as parents we do our best. I know the little guy will wear a helmet from now on.

I know you are a great dad Look at some images online to make sure the helmet is adjusted properly so it can do its job effectively.

 

[bshumake]

Thanks everyone. And I agree with you Pam.
Unless he was wearing a football helmet with a full face guard he would have lost teeth, but the thought of him turning his head and taking that full force to the side of his head has kept me up at nights. Funny, we got him a helmet for his skateboard, but not the bike. He's bounceb back good as new, only minus a few teeth and plus some scars. Sadly, I LOVED feeding him with a spoon again for a few days. Reminded me of when he was a baby. His hands were so painful he didn't want to use them. Susan saw me enjoying feeding him and remembering and shut me down on the spot. Sigh.