I distinguish very harshly between physical damages that can be fixed relatively easy and the rest (including mental damage).

I keep my head cool for any damage in the first category, easily fixed with bandaid, empathy and possibly a tour to the medical ward, at worst hospital for a limited time. I do not wish to sound overly cynical, but bruises cuts and broken bones rarely leave any permanent damage. I can deal with those. And I make this very deliberate choice: I do not wish to shield my kids from activities that can induce that kind of damage. The kids need to learn balance and climbing by falling, tumbling and a certain amount of physical discomfort. There is a downside and a price to pay for this attitude, but I'd rather have that than kids that can't make their footing or can't take any physical discomfort.


Any damages in the second category (severe medical condition, severe head trauma, loss of limb, or the mental kind of damage) gives me shivering. I have also been rushing to the medical ward with a kid with fewer cramps. I also did not know if my daughter would keep her finger tip after she struggled for control of the door with her brother. Both of those was red alert status for a couple of minutes. That is not something I wish to repeat.