And We All Fall Down

Due to Elias's visual impairment and cerebral palsy that affects his balance and motor planning, he falls a lot.

I mean, countless times a day.

Especially now that he's choosing to walk around more often without his canes.

He can get from point A to Point B but he doesn't take the most direct line, as his gait is like a combination between someone who just downed a few liters of vodka and the most outrageous stereotype of a gay man's walk.

 

But, yes, he walks.

And so he falls or almost falls a lot.

Luckily, he generally has a good sense of humor about it.

(Unless he's hurt then he tends to swing his arms at the first person who responds to help.)

Last night, he fell out of his chair at dinner, ended up on his back on the floor with his legs still on the chair, and he laughed so hard he got us all laughing, looking down at him, our whole bodies shaking with joy, before I finally realized I should probably help him up.

Olive promptly "fell" too but it wasn't nearly as funny.

Elias started creating new verbs from whatever causes him to trip or get stuck or fall. I've been trying to keep a mental list of them all.

When I water the garden: "Mom, I got hosed!"

When he falls in the yard, "Mom I just got grassed."

We are taking care of our neighbors' dog and today he said, "Mom, I almost got Djangoed."

He has also been among other things, "poled", "rooted", "lilaced", "fenced", "curbed", "bushed", "potted", "tree-ed",  "signed", "tabled", "gardened", "wicketed", "rosed",  "trucked", "roped", "wagoned", "sidewalked", "lillied", "dogged", "chained", "rocked", "ferned"...

And "daisied".

If only we all found as much humor in getting stuck, such joy in falling.

Remember this, if you happen to get "Monday-ed".

Comments

[Crlanchelan]

That's really sweet. I have been purple loose-strifed before!
I think I told u this before but one of my favorite things about ice hockey is no matter how skilled the played, falling is still part of the sport.

[Christy]

It is a rare game that I don't fall multiple times, it does make the sport fun, especially with all or pads for protection:)

[Wendy]

He has your gift of words. What a clever boy.

[Christy]

Thank you Wendy:)

[Morgan s]

I think getting ferned sounds pretty good!! :)

[Lee]

'I got hosed' and 'I got Djangoed'--those 2 are classics!!

[Christy]

A few more I forgot or he has since added: strollered, racked, doored, wheeled, and sistered:)

[Tabatha]

Yay for Elias! Thanks for sharing this, Christy. We need to hear about finding joy in falling.