No Pain in January

January this year feels like most Januarys in a lot of ways:  I'm chubby, I hate my hair and I'm wondering what to do with the rest of my life.  Same old.

But there's good stuff, too.  I have a new great nephew and, after much procrastination, B-man got his hernia repaired.  I know - these things don't exactly belong in the same sentence.  But after all we went through with Dad, this minor procedure was a bigger deal than it should have been, and I caught a little PTSD waiting for B-man's surgeon to come and tell me all was well.  Thank God we were home before happy hour.

B-man apparently doesn't understand that he's supposed to have at least some pain after surgery.  He's also getting used to my Mother Hen approach to healing.

Me: Are you sure you're not in any pain?

B-man:  A little achiness, but nothing I need medication for.

Me:  Are you sure?  Because I could cut your pain meds in half - or even in quarters.

B-man:  No, I don't need it.

Me:  Okay, but you're not working out or doing anything strenuous.

B-man:  I know, but I'm going to walk Paige.

Me:  No, I'll walk Paige.

B-man:  They said to judge my activity by pain.  And I heard them say walking is good.

Me:  You were still loopy from the anesthesia.

B-man:  I felt fine.

Me: You asked if it was a bad idea to do a happy dance.

B-man:  I would have, too.

Me:  I don't trust your freakish pain tolerance to know that you're healing.

B-man:  I feel pretty normal.

Me:  Nice try, but you've never been normal.

B-man:  Look, I'll cut Paige's walk short and take my phone in case I need your help.

Me:  Promise to stop in your tracks and call for a ride if you get tired, feel pain, or just want to.

B-man:  I promise, Mommy.

His walk was fine, and I fully expect him to ignore my motherly warnings and go about his life.  I have worn him down to the point that he has committed to a week of exercise that only includes walking Paige every morning.  That's a major win.  Now if I can just figure out what to do with my hair.

Image from mirianda.com