Screw the themed thingy I have been doing, I knew that would not stick long, although if I can muster the discipline I will write about kids with cancer, because they matter and so does more funding and a cure...
But thanks to Grace over at Camp Patton I had the lovely reminded why I am terrified of trampolines... yes terrified. I will not go on them, nor will any foreseen spawns of mine in the future. Just no. And who is the thank for this but my lovely grandmother. Who is now in her 90's and is a kind but firm Catholic women. She bore 13 children and was the reason I made my first communion and confirmation because lets be honest who would want Gma breathing hell fire down their neck because there favorite grandchild is not fully received into the Catholic Church. No hands raised??? Moving on.
As a child I was not a chicken, I was cautious but not a chicken. After all I was the child the tried to bungee job out of the tree with a jump robe around my stomach, (let's thank God my wonderful mom caught me in time) but it was the caution that would get to me. Once someone told me how dangerous something was I would NOT do it. It is proubaly why I am the 1% of children that D.A.R.E. worked on, and why Scruff McGruff and Smokey were "so cool" in my eyes.
Anywho Grandma was visiting our humble abode and I was about to go outside to jump on my besties trampoline. Before I left grandma took me aside and said be careful. She then proceeded to tell me graphically how Uncle So and So fell off one jumping too high and not only cracked open his head but suffered a compound fracture. This was the same Uncle that almost lost his eye running with a stick.
I am pretty sure 5 year old me stood with pupils dilated and mouth feel open in fear. I was then sent out of my way, but every terrifying jump was filled with images of injury and death.
The fear only grew when another neighbor boy feel off a lost a tooth. Years later I come to find out that the whole story was false, and Grandma only wanted her most favorite and awesome grandchild safe. However since then every jump has been filled with the terrifying fear that one wrong leap will lead me into impending doom. IMPENDING DOOM
Well, I won't let my kids jump on them. The poor babes just sit and watch as their friends risk life and limb all on the trampoline together. A man from our church was jumping on one (20 years ago) and fell off. He has been in a wheelchair every since. Sure, the nets on the outside make it look safe, but we aren't doing it. And I'm not even an overprotective mom. I encourage my kids to climb trees as high as they can go! I am backed up on this idea from friends who work in hospitals. They agree that backyard trampolines are injuries waiting to happen.
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