He Wants Me to Stop Asking Him About His Head
October 6, 2011
My 12 year old is home with me today recovering from a minor concussion he got playing football Monday night.
Monday night he seemed perfectly okay, he only said his forehead hurt and the way he had taken hit to his head he had a couple of large bumps and abrasions on his forehead. Tuesday he woke up, acted normal, and went to school. There is no football practice on Tuesdays, thankfully. When I picked him up from school that afternoon he complained of a slight headache, but still I wasn’t overly concerned or worried. Because OF COURSE YOUR HEAD HURTS!
However, I noticed that evening that his temperament had changed. This is a kid who is very slow to anger, happy-go-lucky, mellow. Only Tuesday night he was a little agitated. I told him I was writing a note to his coach and he would not be practicing the next day. He agreed. Anyone who knows this kid knows that he must be feeling poorly in order to agree to that. This is a kid who goes and practices with OTHER teams, just for fun. A kid who has played with a broken finger. A kid who is a wee bit crazy. Still, he didn’t have any of the other tell tale signs of a concussion.
Wednesday I gave him some Tylenol and sent him off to school. When I picked him up he said he had trouble concentrating all day and that he still had a headache. A worse headache. We got home, he relaxed for awhile and then attempted to do his math homework. I saw his lack of concentration for myself. And he was still not really himself personality wise. Then we started talking about the game and his timeline of events is off.
Ding ding ding. We have a concussion.
I had been planning on taking him to the doctor today, but he woke up this morning feeling fine. No headache. Back to his easy, happy self. I already told him he is staying home tomorrow just for good measure. I remember back from when my oldest had his concussion that reading and using the thinking portion of your brain made headaches come back. He is not pleased with this.
Staying home is boring. “My god, there is five more hours until I would be home. What are we going to do all day? What do YOU do all day? I don’t know how you can stand it!”
I just laughed. He is right.
He is making the most of his time at home by eating everything that isn’t nailed down. He made pumpkin muffins. I saw the recipe on Miss Zoot’s blog. Two ingredient pumpkin muffins. Even the brain injured can do that!
He didn’t believe me that we only needed two ingredients (How could it not have eggs, Mom?) so I looked it up on a recipe site for him. And thus he was exposed to his first crazy recipe commenters. “Mom, this person gave the recipe 5 stars, but then wrote that they added like 10 other things to the recipe. It’s not even the same recipe anymore! People on the Internet are crazy!”
I just laughed. He doesn’t know the half of it.
He made the muffins and proceeded to eat 6 of them as soon as they came out of the oven.
Then he said, “Alzheimers makes me hungry.”
Awww baby, shhhhh, don’t strain those brain cells.
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I LOVE that shirt! I had one of those for my ADHD kid a few years back. I was very sad when he grew out of it.
I hope he gets to feeling better soon. At least he has a great attitude about it. It still amazes me how resilient kids are.
October 7th, 2011 at 9:03 amI know, I know, people on the internet ARE crazy, especially with all the advice giving. So, here I go embracing my crazy.
It isn’t clear if you took him to the doctor or not — do! Do it now! More than the first concussion, a second one (which is of course more likely if your thinking goes woogy from time to time due to using your brain or exercising due to first concussion) can be REALLY serious before the first one is totally “cured.” Really, really, really serious.
October 7th, 2011 at 9:05 amOkay, so I know that this had nothing to do with my comment yesterday about how much I miss your blog but still. YAY!! Happy to see this post!
Sorry to read about your son’s concussion. My youngest got one in first grade and it was one of the scariest moments of my 16 years of parenting. He was fine and then, suddenly, he wasn’t. Scared the crap out of me.
Hoping for a full recovery to your guy. But now I gotta go check out this muffin recipe!
October 7th, 2011 at 9:44 amHis last comment made coffee come out of my nose.
October 7th, 2011 at 10:09 amI know you live in Texas, where football is de rigeur but maybe your boys could try sports with a little less violent contact? The physical punishment is why I can’t get on the football wagon….
October 7th, 2011 at 11:20 amI know this sounds really critical and I’m sorry. Just concerned.
Where did you find his t-shirt? I’d love to get one for my ADHD 11-year old!
October 7th, 2011 at 12:03 pmI hope he feels better. Are there going to any muffins left but the time the other kids get home?
October 7th, 2011 at 12:52 pmLaughed at your last comment. As a mom who has had a sports injured child, I get being cautious. (Three shoulder dislocations. Yay.) Also, may I say I need that shirt for my 16 year old. And my nine year old. And my husband. *g*
October 7th, 2011 at 2:13 pmMy son has that shirt and it is so very true with that child
Glad your son is feeling better.
October 7th, 2011 at 2:24 pmI’ve often wondered about that recipe myself. Obviously to a teenage boy they’re good fresh out of the oven, but what do YOU think? I’m scared to even look at the crazy recipe commenters.
October 7th, 2011 at 2:29 pmI feel your pain. My 15 month old has a concussion. She fell out of her highchair yesterday and her head caught the table on the way day.
At yours is having fun making pumpkin muffins. Sounds yummy!
October 7th, 2011 at 9:18 pmSorry, that should say at least yours…
October 7th, 2011 at 9:18 pmPreggo brain.
Funny how being forced to do nothing is less fun than doing nothing voluntarily. Glad to know he’s recovering; concussions aren’t anything to mess with. And his t-shirt? Totally rocks.
October 7th, 2011 at 11:37 pmscary stuff.
October 7th, 2011 at 11:43 pmI hope he recovers quickly.
I saw those muffins too and wondered about them. Sounds like they were good! (Seriously, no eggs? Weird.)
October 9th, 2011 at 8:08 amhope your son is feeling better. i am still dealing with post concussion syndrome due to a car accident i had this past april.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:14 amI’m glad he’s feeling better :).
October 10th, 2011 at 1:25 pmI made those muffins yesterday and they are delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Hope he is feeling better!
October 19th, 2011 at 8:14 pmJust found your blog by the way.