Risk Assessment
A couple of days ago I had a conversation with a child at work that’s stuck in my mind. He was playing on a tyre-swing and called out to ask if I could push him.
I confidently said I could and crawled over to help him. I knelt in the bark pit and gave him a couple of enthusiastic pushes. When the tyre swung round and brushed against my back he immediately said, ‘I don’t want you to push me any more.’ I tried to reassure him it was fine but he got off the swing and told me he didn’t think it was safe for me.
He was right of course.
I was sad I hadn’t been able to push him, touched he’d been concerned for me, and pleased he’d been able to see it wasn’t sensible.
I also felt a bit embarrassed that a six-year-old had been better at assessing the risk than I was.
Eve says:
Oh, Jess. Oh, little boy. <3 <3 <3 <3
jhillksr says:
I hope you don’t feel too bad for too long. I am a martial artist who is recovering from a debilitating illness and I always try to push myself, and there are days when I go too far. My PT is the place where I can push, and safely. But there are times, I see an film of me fighting just 2 years ago, and now I can’t walk unassisted.
I can’t walk unassisted today; I choose what happens tomorrow.
Listen to your six year old little friend – as we all listen to you.