I’m Ugly (Because of My Boot)

Recently, we got a boot for my 4 year old son C to use when he is awake. The doctor doesn’t want his fracture to get any worse, so the boot helps keep things protected and aligned. He hates wearing it, but after a checkup visit, the doctor said he needs to wear it all the time. We can’t use the brace we got him and we need to make sure things are healing properly.

Since C has been wearing the boot more often this week, he doesn’t feel like himself. He wants to be able to run and jump. He missing climbing things. He now crawls around everywhere. I think overall, it’s fine for the most part, but when he stops to think about the situation, he doesn’t like it. He also has been starting to say he is ugly because of his boot. It really gets him down and I could see that when his friends saw him on the field trips last week. When C can’t be his silly, energetic, and speedster self, he gets sad.

The times I’ve heard him say that, I tell him that he isn’t ugly (obviously) and that he should be kind to himself. People have to treat themselves the best and I asked C to say that he loves himself and that he’s great. He did it both times I’ve heard him call himself ugly (in a serious way), but only after joking about being ugly a few more times to try and pretend like he wasn’t serious. I hope he remembers to be kind to himself and that things will be fine, even if he has to wear a boot for a few more weeks.