Boo Boo Magnet
Last October, my son got hit in the face with a dog. You heard me. The dog didn’t bite him, it didn’t growl, there wasn’t any attack of any kind. Ben was just sitting there petting the dog, the dog was loving it, and then the dog (a bull-dog with sharp protruding lower teeth) JUMPED up (apparently there was a donut was involved) and his teeth rammed into Ben’s face ripping gaping holes in his upper lip and bottom opposite side lip. A trip to the ER and 25 stitches later, he was regaling his kindergarten friends with stories of his valor.
Now, this might seem weird to you if you didn’t know Ben. But my son is a disaster magnet.
We go to petting zoos and he gets chased by goats. We took him to Underwood farms and a Turkey pecked him in the forehead. If there’s a toothpick on the floor, he’ll trip on it; a glass to knock over, he’ll nail it; an edge of a chair, he’ll fall off it.
I’m exhausted from trying to save him from himself!
Today, he got nipped at by my sister’s dog. The dog just didn’t like his vibe at the moment and decided to send a message. Boy was I pissed at that dog – Ben was totally innocent!
I gathered my boy into my arms against his will. He was like “Mom, I’m fine. I’m okay.” Ben’s eyes were rimmed in tears he was fighting so hard to hold back. My little man. “It’s okay to cry, honey.” I told him.
Ben’s response “It’s okay mommy…I’m used to it.”
My poor boy. Even he knows it.
Maybe he’ll grow out of it. But for now, I’m considering a helmet and body armor. Would it be wrong to stuff his clothes with Cottonelle?
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@the_kcar – totally agree. Usually we laugh…unless there’s blood. Then we only snicker.
@aspergers2mom – I know and I’m on it! He was born with hypotonia and an unspecified neurological dysfunction. Had him diagnosed at 10 MONTHS! Because of my daughter, I knew the signs. He’s had OT, PT, ST…if it ends in a “T” he’s had it. Maybe he’ll grow out of it…or maybe he’ll just need a really good health plan.
@joyouswind@xanga – Don’t apologize, it still racks me with laughter whenever I remember it. It was HILARIOUS! And he didn’t even cry. Just very surprised that the turkey’s head fit through the fence.
Between occupational therapy and specifically not making a big deal of it, my kids [eldest has ADHD and youngest is high-functioning, moderately autistic] – we developed the habit of laughing with it, rather than freaking out at minor injuries [“Now: don’t break my floor!”] – on occasion, my oldest still bangs into something around the house [“lost track of the ends of my limbs, I’m good, Mom”].
Don’t worry about it – kids have a habit of picking up Mom’s worries, and animals pick up on when their humans are nervous. As he demonstrated to you, he’s fine- and developing a sense of humor about it. Don’t sweat it, trust me.
When a child has alot of accidents there may be an OT issue. His body language and actons can cause alram in animals and his lack of muscle control can cause accidents. I assume he is getting OT. If not get him checked out. You may be surprised how it will eventually make a difference.
Oh my word.
I hope he grows out of it! I suppose it’s making him a tough little guy.
I have to confess there’s something funny about the idea of a kid getting pecked in the forehead by a turkey, but I imagine the reality wasn’t so funny. I apologize for snorting.