9 a.m First call from Simon.
Simon : “Mum I’m going to see Paul but I’m not taking my phone as it won’t fit in my pocket”
Me: “Si, you need to take your phone with you as you might need to ring someone”
Simon: (slightly agitated).
” I can’t take it Mum, Ill be fine! I’m only getting the bus to Pauls and getting the bus back”
Me: (worried)
“Ok Simon but you really should take it with you wherever you go”
Silence…he has hung up, and with a heavy heart I put down my phone
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4p.m. A call from an unknown number
my heart sinks again (I have developed a sixth sense)
Driver: “Hello is that Simons Mum? He’s had an accident and has fallen off an electric scooter, he was unconscious for a couple of minutes and we’ve called an ambulance”
Me: (with a pounding, heavy but wise heart, and relieved for the medical card he now carries)
“Oh *!*!* is he ok? Im an hour away, please ring me and let me know when the ambulance arrives so I can drive down (while calmly listening to classic FM and eating my way through a very welcome sausage sandwich)
I worry that I don’t worry, or have little reaction at these times. My son is 35 with special needs and learning difficulties and is certainly not safe riding an Electric Scooter on the road or anywhere else for that matter, but my son is also a 35 year old adult who has the right to make his own choices. Those choices however are, more often that not unwise, and I have had to jump in my car to go to his aid so many times that I have lost count.
I think thats why ‘I worry that I don’t worry’, I guess nothing shocks me anymore where Simon is concerned.
Thankfully after spending an hour and a half on the road, surrounded by good people including an alcohol advisor, a nurse and a first aider, the ambulance arrived and took a very shaken and bruised Simon to the emergency department where a scan showed that everything was Ok. At 10 pm I held Simons hand and helped him into the car. An egg shaped bruise to the front of his head, a lot of gravel burn to various parts of his body, a lot of aches and pains which will make life difficult for the next week or so, but oh how it could have been such a different story!
I dont think Simon will ride the Electric Scooter again, his first words to me when I got to the hospital were “Mum I thought I was dead!” I wonder if he genuinely realises just how close he came, and I’m so grateful for those women who were paying attention to the road in front of them, and willingly gave their time to help.
I was talking with a neighbour the other day about Simon and all the close shaves and craziness that is ‘life with Simon’.
‘You couldn’t write it’. I said.
“Maybe you should” He said.
Maybe I will!!
Love Alison x
Through rose tinted glasses. 
Alison, I am glad Simon is OK. Life lessons are best when we can walk away from them, learning a few things in the process. I am glad he did have helping hands. You never stop being a parent, I have learned, so worrying maybe put on the back burner, but it is still simmering. Keith
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Yes me too Keith, it could have been way worse. Passers by can be very kind in these situations and Im thankful he was surrounded by a group of caring people. He had a bad bupp to his head when he was 15 which resulted in a blood clot, so always a worry when his head is involved but a relief that everything was ok.
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Alison, we are always reminded of those earlier bumps and scrapes. My wife grew up on a farm and has scars with stories behind each of them. Head injuries are the scariest. Again, glad he is OK. Keith
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Thanks for your kind comments keith.
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Words, at least the ones I know, just can’t convey the depth of feelings when reading about these types of challenges. I am very glad Simon is ok after what could have been a tragedy. And, I know you have had many of these situations through the years.
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I have Gary and maybe i need to write it all down. Im sure there must be and will be others who face similar situations. Simon didnt come with an instruction manual so its a case of facing each new situation and working through it as best we can. A cuddle with my grandaughter Olive (who is the sweetest thing) was a good tonic .
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It’s a lot to cope with Allison, both for you and for him. I’m sorry I have no wise words to offer, other than I think not worrying would be a blessing in times like that and a good coping mechanism.
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Thankyou Joni. I think your right, it maybe has become my coping mechanism. My reaction often comes out days later once Simon is ok.
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I think detachment is a perfectly reasonable coping mechanism…..it allows you to get through a crisis without falling apart.
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Ah thankyou for saying that Joni, thats encouraged me. I guess falling apart immediatel wouldnt help much. Ive maybe developed that coping strategy over many years.
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You must have a head full of gray hairs! Bless you (and Simon), Alison!
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Im surprised i dont have more than i do Eliza🤔he is just a step away from disaster all the time so is a constant worry. Relieved he was not too badly hury x
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I am so sorry you had to experience such worry, no matter the age of our kids, it is always stressful when something unexpected happens like that with Simon, and increasingly nerve wracking when you’re a distance away. My son is older than Simon but there are still worrying situations as he trains inexperienced students to drive a semi-truck, and they can be pretty wreckless. Good to hug the sweet
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The saga continues Laura. Im just thankful hes alive and well and just needs to heal a bit. It is hard being a t a distance but Simon does love his visits to the countryside so that is a bonus.
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baby girl to calm you. x
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Alison, I’m so glad you wrote this. I learned more about you and the wonderful person and mother you are. The sisterhood of mothers stretches far. I’m glad Simon is OK. Thanks for including his photo. I feel like I know him a little better.
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Ah thankyou so much for those lovely words. Youve really done me good this evening. Always good to vebuilt up a little. X
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Oh, Alison, I can only imagine how you felt, but I also understand you worrying about not worrying. I’m sorry you had to deal with this accident, but I’m grateful Simon is okay. Hopefully, he’ll stay away from electric scooters to ease your mind if only a little bit. Hugs, my friend. xo
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Thankyou Lauren. Im pretty sure Simons e scooter days are over, lets hope so. Its sad as it was just giving him a bit of fun but we are so lucky that it wasnt any worse as it so easily could have been.
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Thankyou for your hugs x
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💗💗
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