So...Bandaids

Been thinking about bandaids lately. 
We go through a lot of them over here. 

With five little ones running and climbing and jumping around there are many bumps and scrapes that have become part of our normal routine.  Sometimes a bandage is needed to heal a wound and sometimes it's just to soothe their sweet heart.  Regardless of the level of need for a bandaid, they are currently on high demand and quite often we run out.

I've been noticing lately how each one of my children handle "owies" differently.  We range from full-blown freaks out to soft silent tears.  But I can count on a specific reaction from each one of my kids almost every time they get hurt and I'm learning how to comfort them.  It's kinda fun for me - not that they get hurt, but that I know and can anticipate their reactions.

If they all experienced the same exact injury, I would get these five different responses:

Child #1:  Screams, gasps, cries like her hand has been cut off at the smallest scrape, scratch, or cut.  Sometimes I can't even see the spot that hurts but I can sure hear that it hurts her!  She always needs a bandaid, blood or no blood, and she does not want me to touch anywhere close to the injury.  She resists most assistance to help clean or bandage her cuts.  She gets very alarmed and very upset and is difficult to console in those moments after being hurt.  But usually once the bandaid is finally on, she is OK and goes about her business.  She sure loves those bandaids!  She hasn't quite figured out that keeping the bandaid on will help the cut heal.  She loves showing people her cuts and taking off the bandaid to get a new fresh one.  Perhaps this is why we keep running out... 

Child #2:  Has been known to scratch until it bleeds, pick scabs, and mess with healing cuts.  So gross - I know - but it's what she does.  I think she has more of a need for bandaids from reopening wounds than actual getting injured.  We are constantly reminding her to leave them alone and let them heal, but that doesn't seem very affective.  She's a pretty tough kid - tries really hard not to cry when she gets hurt.  She gets super embarrassed when she gets hurt in public and usually responds by laughing it off.  She also loves to share her "war stories" and I can tell she's pretty proud of her scars.

Child #3:  Little bumps and scrapes are responded with an "Ow!" and then rubbed away while he runs away.  Bigger bumps, bruises, and scrapes are met with a huge cry - very large tears, very large sobs, and a very large frown.  He then rubs the hurt spot, gets his hug from Mom or Dad, and then is OK.  He will not ever keep a bandaid on any spot of his body.  They just bother him.  If he remembers about it later, he will point to the injured spot and say "Ow!" and then that is that.

Child #4:  Our sweet silent type.  If she gets hurt, she usually comes to me quietly and away from the others and with soft tears coming down her cheeks tells me that she's hurt.  Getting hurt always makes her sad, but bandaids, hugs, kisses, and treats always help.  She seems to need one-on-one attention the most, so these moments when she is hurt and I am attending to her are about more than just the bandaid.  She doesn't get injured often, (probably because she is our most cautious child) but when she does, she needs her mama.  When the injury has been taken care of, not much is heard of about it after the fact.  She puts on her brave face and goes about her business.

Child #5:  He is a baby so when he gets hurt he cries, and he cries loud.  Especially when his brother hits him, or head-butts him, or lays on top of him.  But being held and snuggled by mom always makes it better.  Luckily there has been no need for bandaids (yet) outside of immunizations. 

Isn't it amazing how each of us reacts differently in coping and healing from our injuries and experiences.  Some wounds need more cleaning, bandaging, stitching, etc. (some may even need surgery or casts) and others may only need a kiss and a rub.  Some people are more open and public and some are more private and quiet.  Some brush it off quickly and some take more time and attention.  And some keep picking at it (we have one of those).  There are many different ways to cope and deal in our attempts to heal.  No real right/wrong, better/worse, good/bad when the goal is to heal - just different.

But one thing remains the same for us all -
We can usually count on a bandaid and some time to heal almost any owie.



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