h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Got a call this morning while I was on the way to see some road safety filming. I knew it was important as the phone went three times in quick succession, so I pulled over to the side of the road as soon as I could and checked for messages. Little had been hurt and taken to hospital the message said and wanted his mum. It appeared that he had had just got grazes.

I tried to phone the school back, but in these circumstances, my brain went to mush and I wasn't sure how to do it, so I started to go back in the direction of the school. Another call and I pulled over to take it. He was at the hospital with the headteacher, so I went straight there - I wasn't that far away.

On arrival, he looked a bit tearful and I gave him a big hug. The head was great and stayed for a little while. I asked little if he was upset with himself and he was. He'd been crossing at the zebra, and although the school crossing patrol was there, he hadn't signalled to cross and he'd crossed without looking properly. He thought I was going to shout at him.

The hospital was brilliant. He'd bounced off the bonnet and had a graze on his face and his nose had bled, so they were being careful in case of head injury. He had three or four x-rays to his head and two to his knee (the site of another graze). Apart from that he had small cuts on his knuckles. I think he was extremely lucky; it might have been much more serious.

He's at home at the moment, on the sofa, under a blanket, watching TV. We watched a video together a bit earlier - one of his. He's milking it at the moment.

I am very relieved to hear he's ok. I am glad for you both. What a nightmarish thing to happen - it's so easy to occur.

Traveller in Time trying the unicycle
"Glad nothing serious went wrong.

Still prcticing in having them crossing the streets myself. It seems a hard job to learn. "

Thank Woodpigeon - yes I was mightily thankful that it wasn't worse. Funnily enough, I tend to think that he was probably less careful *because* there was a school crossing patrol there - as if the presence of the patrol automatically made it safe to cross. This morning, unusually, he left without saying goodbye or giving me a kiss, which he normally does.

Hi TiT - yes, they have to look properly, be able to judge speed and distance *and* to work out how long it will take a vehicle to reach them. Not easy for a child. In this case, it seems he made the assumption that as there was a lollipop man there to cross him, he didn't have to think for himself.

Oh my darlings, big being careful not to hurt little

I am soooo sorreee to hear about the accident. I am so relieved that it was not worse. And how amazingly honest of him and commendable that he said that it was his fault. That is real courage for you.

I wish I lived nearer to you and could be of some use to you. I am gald that the hospital took it seriously and did those head X rays. It is going to be a jolly big shock to his system. Being bashed on the bonnet of a car is not much fun. My daughter Ca. also flipped over the bonnet of a car, and came to rest just under the wheel. I was paralysed with fright!!.

So lots of loving prayers and rest well my dearest

With much

Christiane
AR1

I'm glad to hear that he's okay!

I can see how it could happen, but it does sound as if the driver wasn't being careful enough--even if the patrol hadn't signalled, I'd be *very* careful coming up to a zebra crossing when there are any schoolkids around.

Azara

Please give him our love - remembering him as I met him, it seems such a vulnerable little bod to put in the way of a moving car.

I am enornously relieved for both of you that it didn't have any serious complications. Keeping my fingers crossed that no concussion or internal damage has occurred.

ZSF,

What a relief. I saw the post and nearly had heart failure. Thank goodness he is ok.

This is strange. The very first time my edlest son was allowed to go to school on his own, the exact same thing happened. He was about eight at the time.

One difference, he wasn't taken to hospital, and I wasn't informed I found out from another mother when I was on the way back from the shops. She said she was sorry to hear he had been hit by a car, and was he alright!!!!!! I know exactly what you mean about your mind turning to mush!!

I raced home and phoned the school to be told he was bruised, shocked and a little upset but otherwise ok. I tore them off a strip for not contacting me, as you can imagine. I was about 5 mins walk, 2mins drive from the school.

All I can say is thank goodness for Answerphones, 1571 and mobile phones. How things have changed since those days, over thirty years ago.

Give little a hug, and let him milk it for a while to get his confidence back.



Websailor

Eldest son of course. 'Edless he wasn't Daft -possibly!

WS

Hi AR1 - yes I thought it was courageous of little to admit that he didn't get it right. I thought it was important that I got him to express what he was holding in. When I asked if he was upset with himself (which I did after finding out how he was and reassuring him), his face told the story. I think it was a relief for him to see that I wasn't blaming him, just wanting to hear his side of it. I think he might not have told me if he thought I was going to condemn him.

How old was your daughter at the time? I can imagine feeling paralysed. I didn't witness this, and my brain did turn to jelly for a few minutes.

Hi Azara Where the zebra crossing is placed, drivers do go fast, and there's a corner they come round and the zebra is on them straight away - drivers don't tend to stop there either. From what I gather, the car wasn't speeding, although I don't have the full story yet. And I agree with you. A zebra immediately outside a school with a lollipop man should be a warning signal to any driver.

Hi TC - yes he's still a little bod - I'll give him your hug in the morning. He's in bed at present. His headteacher rang during the evening and advised me to keep him away from school tomorrow - he desperately wants to go as there's a trip to Pizza Express, however I've told him that there will be other trips. Shame really. I think he's OK, though - his pride's hurt and he'll have a stiff knee for a bit. I gave him reiki for his face, and it seems to have been quite effective.

Hi Websailor - yes thank goodness for mobile phones. The school were desperate to contact me, and as I was driving, I didn't/couldn't answer, and there was no-where suitable to stop for a while - all double yellow lines. The school have been very good. The headteacher went with him to the hospital and then phoned me later in the evening. He thinks he will need a bit more TLC tomorrow as he was very shaken and has been very brave (which he has!).

I've spoken to Roy, who is in South Africa at a family wedding at the moment. I texted and then used Skypeout to speak with him. I also had someone from work drop by with a sausage roll and some chocolates for little . It was really thoughful of her.

I felt a bit wobbly earlier this evening. I'm feeling more sanguine now.

Thanks for the good wishes. I'll pass them all on to little .

Oh, how horrible ZSF

I'm glad that you are both over the worst of it now and hope that Little gets away with milking it for all he's worth a bit longer

Hi Fb! I had another phone call from the headteacher this morning. He said that he can come to Pizza Express and go home after that. He's been brilliant about it. I let little sleep longer than usual this morning and he was up in bed, chattering away to himself, nineteen to the dozen. His face has a red stripe on it near his nose. All I need to do is put another the other side and he will have warpaint!

Sorry to hear about Little Fish, Zarq. I hope the marks go away soon.

Thanks, Gnomon.

Do you know, he didn't want me to keep giving him reiki yesterday, in case the mark on his face disappeared, and he wouldn't have a 'war wound' to show his friends. There's no bruising at all on his face, and the one on his knee isn't too bad, although if he'd let me reiki it, it may have been easier to walk today. Again, he wanted something to show. Kids!

I've just come back from the Pizza Express school visit. It was interesting that he wanted me to turn off the 'Spanish in your car' CD, saying I couldn't concentrate on my driving and listen to that. I explained that similarly to talking to him, I could do it easily on a straight road, however, when I needed to concentrate, I stopped listening and concentrated on the road.

Anyway, he's keen to start walking to school again. I think I may accompany him the first couple of times.

Having spoken to the Sargeant in charge of little 's case, it sounds as though he didn't jump out in front of the car, but walked as I've taught him. There's a possibility that the driver may be prosecuted for failing to stop for a school crossing patrol. Makes me feel better (not that the driver may be prosecuted, but that little was acting correctly, although I do wonder whether his looking skills are well enough developed).

Back to school and work for the first time after the incident. Little is in fine form. Not quite the same for me. During the first part of the afternoon, I found myself sweaty and shaky, so I decided to come home - and I went to bed, before going to the school to collect little .

I phoned Roy a bit later - I really needed his support in feeling reassured. A hug would be nice, but that won't be possible for another couple of weeks.

Just amazing what the young often have to survive to reach the really foolish ages, eh?

I am so pleased to hear how light the damage was to the little one. It's about the scariest thing I think I've ever experienced, knowing that something has happened to my young one, and not being immediately handy to somehow put things right.



PS: did you know your link to the H2G2 winter pictures (2004) is broken?

Hi Fords,

Yes, I'm amazed how resilient he appears to be and I'm sure it's not just him - it's the resilience of the young (before we get a bit older and start messing about with our bodies). Even the marks on his face are fading and there's only a very little left. I've been applying Rescue Cream, which is wonderful stuff. I just hope that he does learn the lesson, but I need to do more than just hope. I've got some support from work for supporting him to really start looking.

'PS: did you know your link to the H2G2 winter pictures (2004) is broken?' I'll go and have a look. It may be that I had a trial account with .Mac that expired and I couldn't get access to again, even though I have one that works now. pooh!

I went to see little 's class teacher this morning. She told me he is making good progress and it was somewhat of a relief to hear. He is apparently settling down really well and his work is improving. She thinks that things have particularly improved since his being hit by the car. Interesting! She thinks it has improved is responsibility and his concentration. Apparently, his 'street cred' has also improved markedly with his classmates. So perhaps being knocked down has had some positive impact.

Traveller in Time trying to remember examples
"Peculiar, we have similar experiences by one of the kids beeing ill, just the flu or something, but when they have recovered they make jumps in development. "