On my last post about Buttercup's Cover-up, Willowtree commented "That's one tough hombre." And I thought, "Yes, she does have a high tolerance for pain." But, then I remembered that her pain threshold is NOTHING compared to her brother. He has a pain tolerance that far exceeds anything humanly possible.
Case in Point #1 (as witnessed by Dave and his brother, G)
Jammin' was 15 months old and playing outside while Dave and his brother chatted about guy stuff. They decided to head back into the house. Dave called Jammin', who immediately ran toward them. Somehow, he missed the first step into the house and landed FACE FIRST on the second step. Both Dave and G gasped and cringed as blood poured from Jammin's nose. But, that kid just took it all in stride. No tears, no crying, just happy to be with his daddy and uncle.
Case in Point #2 (as witnessed by two cousins, aged 15 and 17 respectively)
Whenever there is a young baby in the house, my in-laws put a baby gate across the stairs. Due to the shape of the banister, the gate is placed on the 3rd step, giving the baby access to two steps. One Christmas, when Buttercup was first mobile, the gate was installed. At the age of 3, Jammin' was lifted over the baby gate so he could play upstairs with his cousins.
When Jammin' was done playing, he crawled over the baby gate. Instead of crawling back down the other side, he jumped from the top of the gate. In front of two horrified cousin's eyes, Jammin' flew through the air, over the bottom two steps, and BELLY-FLOPPED on the hard linoleum floor below. Both cousins raced for him, but Jammin' stood up, shook himself, smiled sheepishly, and then ran.
Case in Point #3 (as witnessed by his aunt, Netty)
At the age of 5, Jammin' chased after his cousins down the steep drive-way at his grandparent's house. We always scream at in fear remind the kids not to run down the drive-way because it is slick and someone always falls. Sure enough, Jammin's feet slid and he tumbled. Netty raced down after him and picked him up. Jammin's knees, hands, and chin were scraped and bleeding.
"Jammin' are you okay?" She asked, concerned, ready to console him.
"Yeah, I'm okay." He said and turned from her and raced back after his cousins to keep playing.
Case in Point #4 (as witnessed by me)
This summer, Jammin' was busy riding his bike with his older cousin down the above mentioned hill. I was a bit nervous and tried not to watch. Jammin' streaked by me and hit the grass. He was in the process of squeezing the brakes when he hit a rock (or dirt clod). Both him and the bike tumbled sideways. Jammin' hit the grass and rolled.
Although my heart leapt from my body and somersaulted down the hill after him, I waited. I have learned.
If Jammin' cries, I react. If he gets up and dusts himself off, I don't react, except to maybe offer a Band-aid.
In this case, Jammin' laid there for a moment. I reacted, worried "Jammin' are you okay?"
He slowly raised himself from the ground, looked at me, looked at his cousin, smiled, and then laughed. Yeah, he was okay. Despite the skinned elbow and horrible bruise that later developed on his thigh, he was okay. High pain threshold? Yes. One Tough Hombre? You betcha.
It is amazing what some kids can withstand and never complain...and how much others will whine with a mosquito bite.
...one tough hombre, you got there...
Posted by: Swamp Witch | September 04, 2007 at 02:36 PM
Her first child come out sideways. She didn't scream or nothin'.
Posted by: Heather Goodman | September 04, 2007 at 03:40 PM
That's no big deal, anyone without a central nervous system could do those things!
Posted by: Willowtree | September 04, 2007 at 03:42 PM
wow. as a new mommy to a little boy, i am scared, very scared at what i will witness in the coming years. ..
Posted by: Sabrina | September 04, 2007 at 03:48 PM
What ever that jammin has you need to package and sell.
Posted by: jucier | September 04, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Aaron is the same way. In fact my RN mom thought he had a problem where he actually didn't register pain. I just have to close my eyes and not react when he falls down. He's always fine. I'm not.
Posted by: nikk | September 04, 2007 at 05:25 PM
I was having heart failure just reading this stuff!
Posted by: Bethany | September 04, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Oh, I would say that is boys but you said your daughter is tough too. Wow, amazing kids! My boys are kinda that way. Even when my son had to have 15 stitches on his face he didn't cry. Weird kids!
You made me remember when my oldest son fell out of his bunkbed at about age 5, he fell on a toy evidently and I hushed him, asked him how bad it hurt and sent him back to bed. When we got up a few hours later it was swollen so I took him to the doctor and the doctor thought nothing was wrong - he wasn't crying - it was broken! I'm a horrible mom and he never lets me forget it. :) He's 19 now and loves to tell people about when mom sent him back to bed with a broken arm. Ugh.
Posted by: lisaschaos | September 04, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Oh man. I think our sons are related. :)
Posted by: melissa | September 04, 2007 at 06:55 PM
LMAO at Heather's comment!
"She's strong! Hooooooooork!"
Tough kid. Maybe you should get him a tattoo for his birthday?
Ian
Posted by: Ian | September 04, 2007 at 07:00 PM
Wow, he's tougher than my boys. They don't like blood.
Better to be hyposensitive than hypersensitive!
Posted by: Kila | September 04, 2007 at 09:13 PM
Izzak is just like that I don't know how many times I've seen him do things ever since he was a baby that I totally expected him to be hurt from and he barely reacted. Like when he burnt his leg last spring and didn't tell any one even though it was horrible and ended up needing to see a burn specialist and last fall when he broke his arm but finished the day at school. Boys especially are weird that way. Of course in Izzaks case don't come near him with a little itty bitty needle or it will send him running!
Posted by: my4kids | September 04, 2007 at 09:19 PM
they get that tough stuff from their grandma.
Posted by: Pamela | September 04, 2007 at 10:52 PM
Now that does sound tough. I think we have a few wimps in our family as a slight bump or the sight of blood causes such wailing you would think someone is being murdered. But me I'm tough, I broke a toe once and didn't even go to the docs. Bit stupid really as I now have a mis-shaped toe which sometimes makes buying shoes difficult.
Posted by: chrisb | September 05, 2007 at 04:20 AM
omg, buy him a helmet! just joking..he is a tough kid, wow! a cutie too
Posted by: barngoddess | September 05, 2007 at 06:09 AM
My dad is the same way. I wish I had half the pain tolerance they do. I am not a wimp, but if I would have crashed a few times like Jammin' I think I would want to just lay there for a while. :)
Buttercup too! Sheesh! You have Heman Children!
Posted by: Julie | September 05, 2007 at 10:45 AM
And it surprises me because he is such a tender heart. I guess he needs a tough exterior to protect his sweet little insides.
Posted by: Amanda | September 05, 2007 at 10:49 AM
And then there are the polar opposites who scream bloody murder and you can't tell if a limb was ripped off the body or the kid has a hangnail...
yeah, I've got once of each and another somewhere in between. I think three of the same (either way) would've done me in!
Posted by: Robin | September 05, 2007 at 11:15 AM
He needs to teach Mollie about pain control as she really is pathetic, it's getting to the point where we pay no attention and she'll probably go break something next!
Posted by: beccy | September 06, 2007 at 02:39 AM
ahh man i wish my kids would do that not the hurting themselves all the time thing they already do that but the lack of screaming would be nice... i have a drama queen..
Posted by: wolfbaby | September 06, 2007 at 09:40 AM