In a Cast

Chickabidee fell off a zipline and broke her arm this summer. Radius and ulna, clean break. I was right there, standing beside her when she fell to the ground, watching her arm snap, holding her with all my might as she crumbled in sobs of pain. We got her to the ER within 20 minutes, x-rayed and arm set in a hard cast within 2 hours of the break. No running, no jumping, no swimming, while the cast is on.  I know husby is right about keeping things in perspective, that kids get hurt, kids heal. But as a mom, my magical thinking that "as long as I am present, watching, I can somehow protect our chickabidees from harm" was shattered...

So here are a few things that we've found a chickabidee CAN do with a broken arm: hula hoop, draw, write, paint, read, go on walks, picnic, blow bubbles, peer at the summer night sky through a telescope... Any suggestions welcome!