First bump on the head

It has to happen sooner or later.
Sort of like the first bleeding wound that I can remember as a child. We roamed the neighbourhood, my cousins and me, climbing onto the abandoned garages, squeezing through dirty drains. One by one, my playmates all suffered cuts and bruise from dramatic falls and tumbles. I accepted that my fate would be no different but I played on without a care.

It finally happened one day. I ran too close to a small drain and lost my footing. The result was painful but not as dramatic as I thought it would be. Multiple lines were scrapped along my upper thigh. Just enough to bleed but there will not be any trophy scar. Well, at least, that was out of the way.

With Gracie, we were very careful about her falling off our bed. We love to have her on our bed with us at night. Especially after when she woke up crying. Our king size bed also serves as a changing table and for her day naps. So whenever Gracie is on our bed, we will be very careful to prevent a fall. She would be surrounded by pillows and bolsters. It happened much when we least expected. Right when our vigilance are still heightened. At 5 months old. Gracie was taking her usual 8 pm nap. I was by her side watching her drifted off to sleep. Actually, it is more like tossing and twisting off to sleep. I then left the room to watch TV. Moments later, Raine chided me for not ensuring that Gracie was well sandbagged. My wife is normally more kia-su. She would cover the floor below the bed with pillows and bags of diaper. However, that night, she did not and she corralled Gracie with a bolster. I would not have done that. I had that it rolls off the bed easily when Gracie twists about. I regret not cautioning my wife on this.

About an hour later, Gracie cried out as she normally does after she woke up. Raine went into the bedroom and gave a terrified shout. Gracie had fallen off the bed onto the floor. The whole household was tense as we debated on what to do next. My mother-in-law who was staying with us at that time, was an anchor of calm. For once. I wanted to bring Gracie to the hospital for a check up but she seems to be alright. No prolonged crying. I was doubtful but it was decided that there no need for immediate medical attention. Much later, after the storm subsided, I went online to research on the topic. Hmmm...we are not alone on this. Plenty of advices from other parents on the various forums. That eased my mind a little. We did consulted a GP a day later when Gracie developed a cough. The GP assured us that babies are actually quite tough. If there is no vomiting, she will be alright.

Well, that's another story for my wife to exchange at the playground. As it turns out, there were several other children with worst experience, including one who fell out of his crib, twice the height of our bed.

With a small child, one can expect the unexpected. Like the time when Gracie arched over backward and almost hit her head on the table at the hawker center. I was holding her by her lower body against my chest. She suddenly threw herself backward and swung through more than 90 degree before snapping back up violently. I think she missed hitting her head by a mere cm or two. At that moment, as Gracie cried fearfully, I felt as guilty as if I had committed some horrific crime. Fortunately, she suffered no injury other than a nasty shock.

We have learnt our lessons and are more careful with Gracie now. And I do not accept any more of these things that will happen sooner or later. Some things need not happen for us to be wiser. I am painfully aware of this, each time my mother preaches some common sense stuff about baby to me. Now I listen and think through the relevance to my situation.