On Wednesday, our three-year-old daughter Nomi fell outside on her right hand. She cried for a little while, but there was only a bit of swelling and no bruising. We gave her some Motrin and called the pediatrician. The doc asked us a few questions, then advised that if she was still complaining the next day, we should bring her in for x-rays.
This morning, Nomi told me her "boo-boo still hawts." Off we went to Urgent Care, where x-rays and splints are dispensed in a one-stop convenient shopping experience. Upon examination, the doctor (who was a nice Jewish mom and asked me "are you related to Rabbi Koval? He did my son's circumcision. What a great guy") pronounced the diagnosis: buckle fracture. I saw the x-ray - a teeny, tiny bump on the side on the ulna, and Nomi would need to be casted for a month.
I was shocked, because she seemed so fine. She was smiling and playing happily, and even when the doc pressed and squeezed, she didn't protest. I could hardly even tell there was swelling without laying both (cute pudgy) wrists right next to each other.
In fact, when the doctor put me on the phone with the orthopedist to finalize our appointment for the next day, we all chuckled as Nomi happily colored with her broken wrist on a piece of paper.
Just recently I taught the following in a mussar class from the Ethics of the Fathers:
"Who is wise? One who learns from everyone."
Here's what I learned from my daughter:
1. Not every opportunity has to be milked for sympathy.
2. Getting a cool new splint can be exciting if you let it be.
3. Derive joy from how the green light illuminates when you press the elevator button.
4. When you can't use your right hand, undramatically compensate with your left hand.
5. Smile at other people in the waiting room.
6. If you can't swim, you can still watch a Dora video. If you let go of expectations, life is way more fun.
7. Taking an x-ray is almost as cool as a real photo shoot.
And finally, the doctor told me, "Kids heal fast. They're so resilient." Imagine if it could be said, "Grownups heal fast. They're so resilient." Let's try to make it true.
