If I Can’t See You, You Can’t See Me

I’ve always told my kids this:  if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.  When we take our kids on their scooters, we have a system. Green light means go. Red light means stop. Yellow light means caution.

Today was like any other day of scootering. We decided to go on a quick scooter ride before getting ready for bed. We took our usual route. We turned right to take the long way home. I thought they were in the clear because we were on the sidewalk. I was wrong. I said green light and they were off like lightening. James was ahead of Hope. Hope was ahead of me.

I should have been closer. I should have been visible to my kids. Coulda shoulda woulda.

They kept going on their scooters, on the alleged safe sidewalk, passing houses and trees. It all happened so fast. We were headed westbound. There was a large green tree that was extra shaggy and hanging over the sidewalk blocking full view and there was a black car parked right in front of the driveway. & then, there was a car backing into their driveway.

It’s as if it came out of nowhere. How did I not see it? Aren’t moms supposed to sense danger before it happens, like an alert goes off in their minds to then forwarn their offspring? Not this time. Not today.

James was so enthralled and so in tune with riding his scooter, that he wasn’t looking for cars backing into driveways. He was in the zone, moving fast, and in the moment of absolute joy and abandon. He was moving along in such a free spirited and carefree way.  I was too far back and walking as fast as I could, but not fast enough to prevent the accident.

It all happened so fast, it was like it happened in slow motion and in fast forward all at the same time. A car was backing into their driveway and didn’t see James. James ran into the car. I saw it all happen. The car stopped as soon as they felt my son’s scooter under their car, the back big black rubber wheel popped off and rolled away.

It all scared the living shit out of me!!! His skeleton spike helmet saved his noggin. His elbow pads protected his elbows. His knee pads protected his knees. & God spared my son.

God is good. God is good. God is good.

I ran to him. I couldn’t get to him fast enough. I scooped him up. I immediately called 911. I handed my phone to the man who hit my son to give them the street info. I forgot what street I was on. I carefully placed James on a concrete slab and quickely scanned his body. His ankle was scraped and bleeding a bit and he was crying. He was scared and had been completely blind-sided, as he hadn’t seen the car at all. He hadn’t even had time to apply his brake or yell for help.

I began to panic. “We have to go to the hospital, James. We have to go to the hospital, James.”

James cried, “I don’t want to go to the hospital, Mom. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home.”

The driver’s girlfriend pulled up and offered us water, bandages, and neosporin. I was sweating profusely. I’m not sure if it was the heat or the stress of it all. I dialed Brian’s number and was unable to reach him, then texted him. I got a call within moments and told him I needed him.

The police and firetruck pulled up. They immediately examined James. Within minutes told me nothing was broken, swollen, or fractured at all- just a few cuts and scrapes. James could move his feet, his legs, and his arms.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

God is good.

God is good.

God is good.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, guardian angels. Thank you, badass helmet. Thank you, neon green and black knee pads. Thank you, super strong elbow pads. Thank you, Lord, for sparing my son. Thank you, for protecting his little body, for keeping him safe, for keeping him unbroken, and from being unharmed.

Thank you for forgiving me for not being close enough to my dear son when he needed me the very most. Thank you, God, for my sweet son’s reaction after he’d calmed down:

“Mom, we should have had a bald eagle come and scoop me up right over that car. Mom, you should have been super strong and picked up the car and then I could have just gone under it. Mom, can you please tell me the dinosaur story? Mom, can we watch Dinosaur Trux?”

Thank you, Lord, for wiping my tears away when James said I should have been closer, after I’d blamed myself aloud for not being there quick enough. Thank you for healing my guilty heart. Thank you for second and third and fourth chances. Thank you, Lord, for bones that are intact. Thank you, Lord, for my husband getting to the scene as fast as he did. He reminds me to breathe, that accidents happen, and that this could have happened to anyone. Thank you, driver, for stopping as fast as you did, for going as slow as you were going, and for your genuine apology. I know what you are going through. I, too, have hit an innocent person. Thank you for offereing to replace my son’s broken scooter. He requested that the one you purchase have a bell on it… this time.

Lord, thank you for the lesson on safety. Thank you, James, for requesting gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads a week ago. Thank you, Target, for having the safety gear, just days ago, available for purchase. Thank you for having my kids head to toe safe in their gear, for this particular scooter ride. Thank you, James, for putting on pants, despite the heat before our scooter ride, they provided one extra layer of protection.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please please, watch for cars. Watch for cars backing in and out of their driveways. Tell your kids that they have to stay close enough so you can see them and they can see you. Please please please pay attention, dear friends, to your surroundings. It takes a split second for something horrible to happen.

I thank the stars above my son is ok. It could have been so bad. Outfit your kids in safety gear, head to toe. We can’t send our kids out into the world in bubble wrap, but there are things we can do to prevent injury. Use whatever means necessary to protect your kids. Keep them close, friends, keep them within your visual range. Always. Be safe out there.