He has a graze on his cheek and forehead, sore ribs, and a now-clicking bike. The part that amazes me the most is the scrape on his helmet and the indentation in the foam. Obviously, he's getting a new helmet immediately. He doesn't remember hitting his head but he must have. All I can think of is: at least the bruise is on the helmet and not his brain.
My husband only wears a helmet because we make him but he was sure happy to have it on for the fall. Of course helmets aren't magic and won't save you from very serious injury or even death in a collision, but it can't hurt to wear one and they may help to minimize the damage.
This accident sucks but it was nobody's fault and really couldn't have been avoided. Life bangs you up sometimes--whether in a car, on a bike, or falling down some stairs. You can't protect yourself from everything.
Does this scare me about riding my bike with the kids? Yes. But so does feeding them popcorn, putting them in a bathtub, or laying them down to sleep at night. Life is scary and dangerous but statistically speaking, biking is still significantly safer than driving a car or getting heart disease from inactivity. Choosing to bike with my children is choosing a healthier lifestyle for us all and the planet. That trumps all my fears.
This morning, Jose rode in on the BionX to have a bit of a break. .
Big Brother asked me this morning "are we taking the bike today?" I said "Nah, I think we'll drive. Ok?" "No, I want the Mundo." From the mouth of babes. It's his choice to ride, too.