parenting

pop quiz:

which is worse

• watching your infant roll head first off the bed, being unable to reach her in time, fielding a child with an unstoppable nose bleed and having the nurse on the phone recommend the ER because nosebleed

or

• a phone call from your 21 year old in the next town over with a burn on her hand from the pasta she was cooking for supper, and her weeping hard enough you have to talk to her boyfriend who is rattled but making sense

It is kind of a trick question -  they are different kinds of worse, and also neither is life threatening just, stomach dropping in the moment. The burn is current, the head banging and nose bleeding safely in the past. the helpless feeling is permanently parental.

I did go over, to see and report for Al on the extent of the damage, and pet the child, and take a can of spray on disinfectant and analgesic. She is more ok wiht the hand in water. She will see someone tomorrow. The boyfriend called his doctor first, and they were confused and told him, very kindly, to call her doctor. Her doc said there wasn't much the ER could do for her, to keep it cool and dry and sleep if possible and see the clinic in the morning.

It never ends. and even before it doesn't end, they are worrying about you as well.