A Call to ban Dr. Seuss

I don't really believe in banning books, but today I might re-think that. As I was walking back down the hallway, past the bathroom, I saw Frances step up onto a 12in. ball. It is the kind you would play with outside, nice and bouncy, quite colorful. I started to tell her that she needed to get down, when she was told very forcefully without me having to say a word. That's right-she fell!! Big time!! She smashed her head into the wall, banged the side of her face into the laundry basket outside the bathroom and went down hard on her bottom. I think my mom almost had a coronary just from watching it!

She jumped up to help Frances, just as I was moving to comfort her. I have always noticed that kids tend to cry more, harder, and longer when you rush to them, so I have become quite practiced at calmly approaching a crying child. I also know that the hurt child needs to make the first move, lest you exacerbate an existing neck or head injury. So I calmly helped her up and rubbed her back. She was crying pretty good at this point, so I had a hard time understanding what had happened and where she was hurt. I finally figured out that she had hurt her ear, her neck and her mouth. We put some ice on it and got her mostly settled down.

Thinking that this might be a good time to talk about what had happened, I asked her what she had been doing when she fell. She explained to me that she had been standing on the ball. I asked her if she thought that was a good idea. She said, "The Cat in the Hat did it, so I thought I would try it." "Well, darling, do you think it worked?" "No" she cried. I don't think she'll try it again.

Of course, I didn't take any pictures. Somehow with my mom standing right there, I didn't think I could justify whipping out the camera. Not that blogging was the first (or second) thing on my mind at the time. It was at least the third thought that popped in my head.

Now here's to hoping she doesn't invite any strangers over to play with her and her brother on the next rainy day!!