With two uber-anxious parents it's a wonder Crabtot ever gets to do anything at all. One of us is always barking at her to avoid this, watch out for that, or be careful jumping off a three-inch step onto soft grass. As Murphy's Law would have it, the first time we actually let Crabtot do something dangerous (jump on a trampoline), something bad did happen.

It's Friday and I'm slugging a cocktail at Crabhub's company BBQ, when I hear a terrible wail. It's Crabhub, who, within one second of allowing his tot onto the trampoline, saw her get squashed by another.

Crabtot cried, but not for long. Shortly after the accident, she smiled and forgot her tears. Except she wouldn't walk. Her leg looked normal, but she wouldn't put weight on it. She was her toddler self, only crawling. So we hit the ER.

The pediatrician advised x-rays "just to be sure the growth plate isn't damaged." "Growth plate?" Crabhub was terrified, no doubt picturing Tot with a permanent gammy leg because Dad didn't catch her on the tramp. But x-rays revealed only a minor sprain—and an adorable fact: kids have no kneecaps! The tot patella is the size of a corn kernel! Crabtot took the x-rays to school for Show-n-Share (Btw, what ever happened to Show-N-Tell? Is "tell" too bossy? What gives?) "Look at that little kneecap!" she repeated to her pals in the circle. "It's so cute!"

I wish I could say that I thought about myself only after Tot's x-rays came back. You see, my sis was visiting from South Africa and we had swell plans for the days when Tot would be at preschool. But a kiddo's leg in a cast would ruin my fun. Yes, I'd like to say my selfish thoughts occurred well after the accident. The truth is, they didn't. Right when Tot started crawling, I saw my longed-for week ruined. Naturally I was worried about and sorry for Crabtot. But people, I've got so much maternal compassion it just overflows...leaving plenty leftover for the mother herself.   

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