Gracie is showing signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and it makes us so sad:
-freaks out about the littlest noises, unknown noises especially in our town home where you hear others around you
-cries and has to be held whenever a car horn, or locking beeps sound on cars around us
-thinks everything is going to hurt you (says "____ hurt you")
-won't go down the stairs without us holding her
-won't be in a room without us there
-very aware of police, fire-trucks, and cars in general
We took her to the doctor because the insurance said it would be a good idea if she had any problems in the future. So I took her even though I know it will just take time for her to recover. She said it was Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome and to point out to her all the times we ride in the car and are safe, we wear our seat belts and we are safe, and we are safe even when we hear noises around us. As we were leaving, I thanked the Dr. and said goodbye and Gracie said, "Goodbye Sweetheart!" and did her little girly hip walk out the door. She will be okay.
And then another accident happened...
Last week in her little toy car. It scared me and, I am sure, her to death.
A neighborhood girl, around age 4-5, asked if she could ride in Gracie's car. We said yes and then Gracie pushed her in the car. I was sitting on the bench at this park working on our Home-Speech-Home business on the laptop, so not paying the best attention, and I looked up to see the girl pushing Gracie in the car around the sidewalk loop on the park. They were doing fine.
Next thing I know, I hear Gracie crying and look up to see the girl standing on the edge of the grassy rock cliff and looking down, but Gracie and the car were not there. I ran over to the edge where the girl was standing and looked down to see Gracie's car tipped over on it's side at the bottom of the rocks.
As I was getting Gracie, I was saying "Oh my Gosh! Oh my Gosh!" in utter shock. It made me feel better when I was holding Gracie and she said, "Oh my Gosh!" too. Just like me.
Then I pointlessly got mad and questioned the girl:
"Why in the world would you do that?"
"Did you do that on purpose?"
"Why didn't you turn?"
"She's only 2 and you can't push her that fast."
"Do you want us to do that to you?"
"She could have gotten hurt really bad."
The girl didn't realize how bad it could have been, of course, and just said, "I didn't see the rocks." And looked at me blankly. Then she ran off.
Oooh! I could have... I don't know what I could have done to the girl, but I wanted her to have some consequence for doing that, especially with Gracie in the fragile, stressed state she is in already.
This picture is of her bringing her car back right after it happened, still upset. And the other pictures are of the park loop and rock cliff when I took Luke back to show him a couple hours later. This is the cliff from the bottom and top! Aaaah!
I am just so grateful she didn't get hurt. And that she stayed inside the tight little car as she tumbled down the rocks. She could have landed on her arms or legs or got her face scraped up but she didn't.
She was actually a lot better after this accident than our first one. Although I think it could have been just as scary. Definitely not comparable in impact, noise, speed, or smell though.
I think I am suffering from PTSD too and everytime Gracie gets hurt I am going to remember all of these feelings and stress from these accidents.I hope we can get me a car soon and settle the medical part after this baby is born and then we can leave this wreck all behind us. I will miss our 4-runner though.
Any suggestions for helping Gracie or what kind of car to get?
2 comments:
I am so sorry, Hollie! I wish I had answers on how to help both you and Gracie. That little rock cliff is such a silly feature to have so close to the playground - lots of safety issues there (though I'm sure it is beautiful and provides fun for older kids...) Maybe the new baby will be a good distraction for Gracie and give her something else to think about?
Poor baby! I've never been through that with one of my girls. I was in a car accident with Isabel at 18 months, but it was pretty minor and she wasn't bothered by it. I'm sure it's normal what Gracie is going through and it will just take time. Kids bounce back a lot faster than adults. She can't think rationally about it like you can, because she is a child. Give her time and lots of love. And indulge her in her whims (like carrying her down the stairs) until she feels safe again. Hugs to both of you!
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