Almost daily diary!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Last week I had a call from Tall Girls school to say that she had dislocated her knee cap. Poor thing, it was a very traumatic experience. She kept reliving it and telling me all about it over and over again for a few days afterwards, it was the shock I think. Luckily her knee popped back in fairly quickly but the swelling was considerable and after a trip to A&E, where they put her leg into a splint and then another trip to the hospital a day later, we ended up with a set of crutches and her leg in plaster from top of thigh to ankle. Poor Tall Girl.

She was however, quite stoical about it and took it all in her stride, so to speak. In hind sight perhaps this is the ideal teenage state of being, completely unable to reach anything or do much therefore having everything done for you whilst you hang about on facebook. Do I sound a little grudging?! I am not, but it is wearing and tiring and I am appreciating how much she normally does without me really thinking about it.

It has been just over a week now, and although she is back at school, getting there is a little more complicated than normal. Usually she catches the bus from the end of the road. These last few days since her accident, she has needed a lift. Both ways. You can imagine how that works in with a full day at work, not to mention the new job which starts tomorrow! Life's sweet pattern...

So on the way to school last Friday, a 40 minute round trip down county lanes; as we were stuck in traffic getting out of Bristol, she shouts 'NO!' just as I pull into the far side lane on the duel carriage way. I have quite a shock. Is she in pain, am I about to run someone over? No it is neither of those. 

I was, in fact, about to overtake her school bus, but because of the volume of traffic, I would have, had she not shouted, drawn up along side the bus in the waiting traffic by the roundabout. I pull up just short of the bus, leaving a gap between me and the car in front. I give her a look. 'Am I the most embarrassing Mother in the whole universe?' I ask. A rhetorical question, so it seemed. Well that was the topic of her last English lesson anyway. I harrumph.

I do try, I really do try NOT to embarrass my off spring, however I have realised this is an impossible task, whatever I do, including just breathing, is a total embarrassment to them both.

We negotiate the roundabout and the bus miraculously gets ahead of us again, only for us to catch it up at the next junction. If I did not pass it now, I would have to follow it all the way down the lanes to school. 'Brace yourself!' I say to her with a smirk 'we're overtaking!' It was her time to harrumph. But, unluckily for her, the traffic lights suddenly changed, and there we were, at the red light, right next to her school bus. 

I sneaked a sideways glance. She was staring straight ahead. 'Oh look' I exclaim as I look past her and out of the passenger side window, 'There's Lucy! She's waving'! I gave her a big wave back. I guess that's not cool!

Tall Girls face was like thunder, she was convinced the whole bus had seen us but obviously most of the students on the bus were far too busy throwing their packed lunches about and calling each other names, to have bothered about us at all. The lights changed and we were off at high speed, me laughing my socks off and her looking very displeased!

16 comments:

Steve said...

Ah the strange world of recogntion ettiquette... I didn't understand it when I was a teen myself and I understand it even less now!

BS5 Blogger said...

Great comedy ! :-) x

I liked your phrase 'hanging about on Facebook'

Eternal Worrier said...

That sounds just so painful.

mrsnesbitt said...

Hilarious!

nick said...

It sounds like one of those movie car chases, with you frantically trying to overtake the bus. I think you're right, whatever you do, your offspring will always find it terminally embarrassing because you'll just never be cool enough to keep up with their changing fads and fancies.

Maggie May said...

Sorry to hear about the knee problem.
I can quite remember this phase about being embarrassed by parents. now it is starting with the eldest granddaughter!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Lindsay said...

Very very sorry for Tall Girl. That is how all my knee problems started at the age of 17. Sincerely hope she has no more problems.

Furtheron said...

Embrarssing the teenage offspring, esp the female ones, is one of middle ages greatest delights. My wife and I make a habit of it when at all possible :-)

Good luck with the new job

Carol said...

LOL! I remember walking behind my Mum when we went shopping because I didn't want to be seen with her! In my defense she was wearing black and red sripey socks with high heels...I mean who wears socks and high heels? (Actually, I think I might still chose to walk behind her if she wore that again!)

C x

Akelamalu said...

OUCH - my stomach turned over when I read what happened.

I was 12 when I had a similar accident at school but unfortunately didn't get the right attention to the injury. This resulted in arthritis setting in over the years and me having a full knee replacement almost 4 years ago. Hopefully the treatment Tall Girl has had will enable the injury to heal properly and prevent future problems.

Rose said...

Don't you know, Suburbia?--That's our job as parents to embarrass our teenage offspring:)

Poor Tall Girl; I hope she doesn't have to wear the cast for long. But it sounds as if she's coping well. My youngest tore her ACL in high school and was on crutches for a month. I remember what it was like waiting on her hand and foot...of course, I think I still did that after she recovered:)

DD's Diary said...

I consider it my sacred duty to embarrass my offspring whenever possible. I think it's character-building. Glad you're doing it too!! Ouchy with the poor knee x

Liz Hinds said...

It is our role in life: to embarrass our offspring.

Brett said...

Great post, how is the new job going?

Letty - A Little Girl With A Curl said...

Oh Suburbia, poor Tall Girl!! I hope things are improving for her now mobility wise, oh and embarassment wise too LOL!

I got your comment, thank you so much for thinking about me; and must apologise for not commenting for a long time on here. Life in the so called "real world" took over and my poor family blog got kinda neglected!

I have decided running four blogs and living life to the full is kinda difficult to say the least ;0D

I have lots to catch up on with your life and I will read up during the next few days.

I am going to start writing my blog again soon, Diamonds and Stone, it is wonderful therapy.

All is well here in Bonnie Ecosse, just some elderly relative trouble down in Zummerset which is causing some concern.

I am going to try and catch up right now on your doings!

lotsaluv, Letty xxxxxx

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

She is a teen. Everything you say and do is mortifying (or to use my new sniglet; humilifying), and you won't be forgiven until she's 24 and then turns to beg you forgiveness for her wrongs as a teen, and thanks you for letting her live through her teen years.

;D

It's going to be fine.

Good girl for acing the bus.

Scarlett & Viaggiatore