Four days ago I posted this on my Facebook page:
I think my Mom is tired of my lack of enthusiasm for decorating my house…she’s bringing over paint tomorrow. I’ll have her clean up a bit while she’s here. Old people like to feel needed.
Mom decided the playroom I use for the daycare could use a fresh coat of paint. She knows I’m interior decorator challenged and that I need to be jump started into projects like that so she brought me paint samples to choose from and has been trying to plan a painting weekend for a few weeks now.
When we finally nailed down a day to begin she came skipping over with paint and rollers and paint brushes and all kinds of goodies and we got to work. When we began Mom grabbed the ladder and got to work on the trim at the top of the walls…because it totally made sense to put my 60 year old mother on a ladder 8 feet high while I carefully worked on the trim just above the molding….safely…on the floor.
If you can’t see where I’m headed with this allow me to give you a clue…she fell.
It was awful and I’m traumatized for life after watching that fall play out.
The ladder was resting against the wall on my hardwood floors. I heard a shift and looked up from my spot on the safe and sturdy floor as she stopped what she was doing to readjust. Next thing I knew the entire mother/ladder combo was loudly sliding down the wall before crashing to the floor. She held on the whole way down and her body and face slammed hard when it hit the bottom.
I screamed her name and started flitting around like a little lost bird without a clue as to what to do with her and an overwhelming sense of guilt/shock/regret/horrified-ness.
Whenever I need help my Mom is the first person I call. She always knows what to do…so in true Kathy fashion my Mom goes crashing to the floor and instead of taking charge and staying calm and directing….I’m asking HER what I should do to help HER.
The whole thing was terrible. She asked me to bring her a pillow so she could just lay there for a minute and process the pain and shock to her body. Her chest and wrists took the brunt of her fall and it seemed as if her cup of paint protected her because although it looked like she full on face planted…there was a dent in the cup she had been holding and her face was covered in paint. Her eyes, nose, glasses, mouth, hair…everything. Covered. In. Paint.
When she slowly gathered herself together she started poking fun at the situation…probably to make me feel better. She forced me to take a picture. I didn’t want to, but she was all “oh come on! What’s wrong with you?? Why aren’t you laughing??” and I just kept looking at her cross eyed because I was certain she’d lost her damn mind and the last thing I was thinking about was taking a picture of my beaten up Mom and posting it on my blog.
And then I took the picture.
And hours later, Laina drew her own.
And my Mom will never be permitted to paint here again…with a ladder.
Texan Mama says
So, she’s going to touch up those scuff marks on the wall, right?
June Freaking Cleaver says
The color is lovely…it gives her a devil-may-care appearance.
So, is her next job cleaning out the gutters?
Get on that ladder your own self, young lady!
BJ_Mama says
Oh, this reminds me of many of our “DIY” projects…if it wasn’t my mom, it would be me…or my sister. We had a motto, “No Laughing until the job’s done” Which, of course, never worked cuz someone always fell, or got hit the head….and I don’t care who you are…THAT’S FUNNY!
(glad your mama’s okay!)
Erin says
Did you at least get the room finished? =)
Glad to know she is okay! My mom is my interior decorator too! But funny how each time it came to paint at our house when we bought it a year and a half ago..she was mysteriously absent!
Miss Welcome says
Oh poor mommy!! She sounds just like mine. I would have felt sooo guilty to. I mean, what kind of daughter are you?? (just kidding). :o)
Hope she heals well.
That One Mom says
Oh my goodness! I’m glad she’s alright! My BFF almost killed me once. She’s afraid of heights and needed to paint the wall attached to her vaulted ceiling. Needless to say, she sent me up on the extension ladder precariously placed over 2 staircases and it slipped… Holy scary!
Like I said, glad your mama is alright!
Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" says
Oh, how scary! Now we know where you got your great sense of humor from, your mom. I am afraid of ladders and my dad used them all the time. He even bought a very nice one for us! When he was in his 70s and maybe even his 80s, he still insisted on climbing ladders. He had one handy in his dining room for some time and I always asked to at least wait until we come over to do his ladder climbing. It’s hard to keep a good handyman down–or handy woman like your mom. Hope she’s really OK.
Los says
Gulp! My mom is 71, and she still picks up big rocks as if they were pebbles. She’s probably the strongest (physically) person I know … and I’m scared to death of her.
wendy says
OK, I feel very awful for laughing but let me explain – it’s from the picture, seeing the dented cup and your highlighting ladder marks on the wall.
But all kidding aside – that is sooooo scary and I hope your mom is feeling OK today…sometimes it takes a day for all the marks and aches to present themself.
I too am a goto MOM kind of daughter and I could totally see this happening to me too!
Give your mom big hugs and kisses today or take her to lunch! :O)
Jen says
At least you get worries and concerned about people when they fall. I just laugh.
Glad she was alright and that is a great picture. :)
Kelli @ writingthewaves says
That would have freaked me out too. So glad that she’s okay.That’s quite the dent in that cup. She’s one tough cookie!
rhonda says
I’m one of those people who can NOT stop laughing when these things happen. Leon thinks something is wrong with me. Do you think? lol
I’m glad you’re mom’s okay. But I hope you made her patch those scratches in your wall! lol
Jessica @ Domesticated-Bliss says
wow! that’s scary! glad your mom’s ok, it totally could have been worse but yeah…don’t let your 60 y/o mother climb on a ladder being supported by slick wood floors again ;)
Foursons says
Oh my goodness, I would have been freaked out! I’m so glad to hear she’s OK and is laughing about the whole incident.
Jen C. says
Man, that must’ve scared the living daylights out of you. Can’t blame you for freaking out. I’m surprised you didn’t start crying hysterically. Glad to hear that your mom’s ok and finds this whole thing humorous. :)
Kathy says
Yikes! I hope she’s doing ok!
Nolie says
OMG I would have had a heart attack if that was my mom. Thankfully she is ok.
Funkidivagirl says
Oh wow; I’m glad that it turned out okay. That could have been really bad (not to make you feel guilty or anything…..)
Jessica says
I always think that I would freak out in situations like this, but luckily (and for some unknown reason), I managed to jump into survival mode immediately! Obviously your mom did that knowing that you wouldn’t be so much help…haha…no offense…thank GOD she is ok though!
Poppy says
I kind of in love with your mom. (don’t tell mine, but I’d totally trade)
Joy says
ha I promise I am not laughing at her but with her! Hope the scruff marks came off or you will forever be reminded of the time you almost killed mom!
but seriously glad she is ok
Erin Im Gonna Kill Him says
Oh, that’s scary. My mom is so much smaller than I am so I feel I have to protect her, even though I still rely on her to advise me through everything too! I’d have probably forced her on to an ambulance!
Amy Mayfield says
My mother used to come over and just randoly move my furniture and pictures and the like around-drove me crazy.
I did accidentally try to kill her once, really it was an accident. She was hanging a tapestry over my bed and when she turned around to ask me how it looked (like she cared if I liked it) she walked right into my ceiling fan that was set on warp speed. Once I realized she was still alive, I didn’t think I would ever stop laughing.
Tracy P. says
Holy cow. That makes me want to cry. Glad she’s ok, and hope you recover sometime soon.
Scargosun says
I am SO glad she is ok! Poor you too! I can’t imagine seeing that happen right before your eyes. :(
Jennifer says
Moms are supposed to be the ones that take care of everyone else. That’s why you freaked. I would have too. I’m just glad she’s ok. So when is she going to finish up?
Zombies! says
That must have been awful!
I’m really glad that she’s okay!
My Dad was painting on a ladder, on the stairs one time and fell off. It was really scary , we thought he broke his arm! (he was alright)
It just very traumatizing seeing the people that clean all your cuts and made everything be okay when you were hurt, get hurt.
Melanie says
Wow!! I hope she is ok today. What a sense of humor your mother has. lol!!
Elizabeth Kaylene says
Whew, I’m so glad she’s okay! My mom’s mom — my Nana — has been falling a lot lately. She fell this past weekend outside because the plastic chair she was sitting in just caved backwards and… backward she went. My little cousin had to come get my aunt and I because Nana couldn’t get up. Talk about scary. I had no idea what to do. My little cousin, however, instantly decided that Nana needed her ice pack fishy. (It’s a little ice pack in the shape of a clown fish.) It was scary, and poor Nana was really embarrassed. She wasn’t hurt too badly, though, thank goodness.
I’m glad that your mom had such a good sense of humor about it. I would have freaked the fuck out, had I been you. Hell, I kind of just stood around blankly while my aunt helped my grandmother up. Luckily I had my little cousin to watch, otherwise I would have felt completely useless.
Anyway. Longest comment ever! How’s your mom doing today?
J.R. Reed says
If my mom read my blog (or even knew it existed for that matter) she would keel over and die. Some things are better left quiet, ya know?
Sadie at heyMamas says
Your poor Mom! Have her take Arnica if she bruises.
Sadie at heyMamas
Life with Kaishon says
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Your Mama is so sweet : ). I love that she wanted you to take a picture. That does sound traumatic. My Mom wants to come here and paint soon. I will not allow her to climb on a ladder.
I am hiring someone. A man :) A man that does not likely fall. And if he does, that is ok, because he is not my Mama or my Pop :)
Cindy Schultz says
Oh My! I’m glad your mom is OK. She must be an awesome woman to react that way to her fall.
Young Wife says
Oh, how scary! I’m so glad she’s alright. My father fell off a ladder one Easter Sunday. He was unconscious for a bit. We can laugh about it now, but it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.
Simone says
Your mom is so precious! I probably would’ve asked my girls to take a picture too. To see the humor in things like that is such a great attitude to have. I’m glad she was okay and didn’t hurt herself badly.
Peg says
OK… i’M GLAD YOUR MOM IS OK….BUT I CAN’T STOP LAUGHING! First, it ws theimage in my own mind. I’m the one who always laughs when someone trips/falls. I can’t help it. I have a sick mind. But then when I scrolled down and saws the picture I laughed all over again and then your kids’ pic. that was just the cutest. I’d have probably panicked and then crumpled on the floor from laughter. I’m sorry. I know it was scary, BUT… that’s funny stuff I don”t care who you are!
Helen says
So glad your mom is okay! At certain times, it seems like we have to take care of them, instead of the other way around. Not that I could keep my mom off a ladder, or anything else. Lol.
Jennifer @ The Toy Box Years says
I like how Laina drew grandma’s eyes so they look like spinning pinwheels! That’s probably how she felt too! YIKES!
I’m glad she’s ok though!
Is the room done?
debi9kids says
OMGOSH! I had seen your comment on FB, but holy cow, reading it here! YIKES!
So glad she’s ok.
Back in the day, I fell off a 10 ft ladder and nearly broke my back. HOLY cow. i was sore for days. Hope your mom is doing ok.
stephanie says
i’m really glad your mom is ok.
and i’m really sorry (to her) that i just laughed so hard.
angie says
Whew. I’m glad she didn’t break a hip. I’ve heard old people do that.
Los says
Yup … I have those problems too … it only seems to get … ummm … “enhanced” when alcohol is involved.
Emmy says
Glad she is okay! And yes you had better be up that ladder next time young lady ;)
Alexandra says
What a wonderful mother.
No wonder you’re so happy and creative and all that….
She;s fantastic, and I’m both jealous and happy for you…
Lourie says
Oh I would have freaked. I am glad she wasn’t seriously hurt. What a good sport.
Stefany says
And here I thought you almost killing your mom was going to be about calling her old on Facebook. But I guess that would mean my mom would kill me. ha!
I am glad she is okay but dang, she really did a number on your wall. ;)
Tim says
Wow that is crazy and scary. I wouldn’t trust myself on a ladder as I have a fear of heights and am not that coordinated. Just glad your mom was ok and has an awesome sense of humor. Nice picture by Laina too.
Crystal @ Semi-Crunchy Mama says
Ouch! Glad that your mom’s OK after a fall like that. She’s a good sport — and must have a pretty good sense of humor — if she was telling you to pull out the camera! The ladder marks and dented cup in the photo had me giggling. And your daughter’s drawing of the event is just too cute!
Fiona says
Your Mom is certainly well humored! So fun that you now have a picture to mark the occasion ;)