Dry Body Surfing, a Motherly Instinct

Don't get me wrong, I do like hardwoods... the same way I like dogs. I love them in other people's homes, not so much in mine. Both need maintenance, and can get expensive when not handled with care.

Closest to an American home layout, we chose this one with hardwoods throughout. I think even the driveway would be wood if it made sense (instead, there's brick shaped granite tiles there. very interesting). I figured the hardwoods were a better alternative to the chinese layout options we found; where, I swear if I just opened one more door from the living room to the dining room, to the kitchen, to the laundry room to the Ayi room-- in the end I'd find a piece of cheese. Too many doors, or hardwoods.... we chose hardwoods.

At first the whole running-start into a sock-slide was fun. Then I saw how far I slid, and had to make a mental note. I either needed to be barefoot or wear shoes inside, both not culturally sound. I was a bit too clumsy for such nice floors.

So I wore rubber flip-flops, and only socks at night.

More on our layout (then on to the body surfing)...
We have one room on a split level above the garage. Perfect for guests as it has an internal full bath, but also because it sits upon the garage-- easily the most quiet room of the house. Hence, the reason why Tann was there to sleep at night.

One cold night he woke us, and I went running to get him. I had wrapped a blanket around me like a long robe and went flying down the half flight of stairs to his "quiet" room. Successfully made it there, picked him up, and wrapped him in the inside of my long robe. I made it, sock-footed, all the way to the top stair, and then the blanket got under my foot...

Ever been body surfing?

It's when you give way to the under current of the ocean and let your whole body surf. Only, safe, because you have a boogie board.

There we went, Tann and I sliding down each stair until we HIT the bottom. With any other flooring, we would have just fell once, and gotten back up. Instead, we were giving way to a Tom and Jerry episode, with my head clunking on each stair, rolling while in the process. I screamed the whole time, and of course the whole fam damily (including our Ayi) came to look. They all just stared. Wouldn't you. Here I was in too much pain to even stand, handing off Tanner's stiff little posture to Tim. Of course, he did not suffer a scratch.

I complained to Tim how the hardwoods kept me sliding, and how I felt totally out of control. I'd suffered HUGE (think tennis ball size) bruises on my sides, and the inside of my cheeks chewed up... I could barely walk.

When I'd finally made it back to bed, my guy says

"Actually, it was kind of cool". Typical male, right? No. He was referring to the fact that I was in control. Totally.

"Suzanne, you could've caught yourself on the first stair". Yes, there was a million little slats on the railing to choose from at any point of stopping. If Tanner was a basket of laundry, I'd have thrown it, and grabbed a slat. "But instead, a motherly instinct made you and protect Tanner, at the sacrifice of your own body".

A still moment filled the midnight room. Interesting, how I'd never even given that a thought. My body instinctively gave way to the precious cargo.

Tamra Devries, a friend here in China told a similar story about holding her son and loosing ground on some slick ice. She, with that motherly instinct that acted faster than her mind could. She still fell, but fell forward, onto her forehead. Her body knew she was slipping, but with her baby in arms, the instinct lunged her forward to sacrifice her very own head to keep from falling on her baby.

So here's to our midnight adventure, Tanner: I'd body surf for you any day. Because as a mother, you are the most important and protected limb on my body.