A few days ago, my sister fell over and - as it turns out - broke her ankle.

 

 

 

I was here on the computer and heard a bang, but we were moving things from the attic, so I thought nothing of it. After a while, I heard sobbing, and come upstairs to find my sister crying her eyes out, with my mother and father doing whatever they could to comfort her. Being her older brother by 20 months - she is 13 and I am 15 - I really didn't know what to do. I stood by her for a while, tried to make her feel better, but nothing worked. I even, shockingly, got annoyed at her persistant wailing - although I said nothing.

 

 

 

My father, after having used the last couple of paracetamol to try and calm the pain, gave me the empty box to put in the bin. I ran downstairs and willingly deposited the item in the recycling, and then got stuck with myself. What could I do? I knew if she was hanging around while I was on the floor in agony, I would get pretty annoyed. The problem was though, even if my sister didn't mind, what would my parents think of my absence? I tried to think of things to do: get her a cup of hot ribena? It would get in the way. Get her something to eat? The same problem. Warm the car up for her going to A&E? I was in my pyjamas and it was 10 at night.

 

 

 

I felt so helpless, I've never been good at giving comforting words - that's been my mother's job - and I knew my sister would only get annoyed if I tried. I eventually decided on making her some sandwhiches to eat at the hospital, which was thankfully accepted by her and my parents. My father then drove my mother and sister to the Hospital, and I was left at home on my own, my thoughts swirling in my head. Had I done the right thing? Had I done anything? Had I done enough? Was there something else I could have done? Should I have gone back upstairs to be with her? All of these questions drew blanks.

 

 

 

As is obvious, I am still thinking of that night now. She missed her hockey match, and has been on crutches ever since she came back.

 

 

 

What would you have done? Did I do the right thing?

 

 

 

Your thoughts please.

Did your actions result in estrangement?

 

 

 

Looks like they didn't. In that case you have nothing to worry about, what's done is done and as long as there are no negative consequences it shouldn't be a problem.

its just a broken ankle. shes not dieing or anything. why even worry about it?

yeah its not the end of the world, at least you made sandwiches.

It's just a broken ankle, seriously. You're acting like she contracted AIDS and she's dying or something. There's nothing more you could have done. :?

Well, I guess you were kind of clueless, and maybe the situation didn't hit you until later. I guess you did alright with making sandwiches, considering that you aren't gifted like some with comforting words.

Tbh sounds like you feel guilty, unless you pushed her there's nothing you could have done, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have posted if you did. You made sandwiches, you did more than some would.

Maybe you could give her a getwell card?

It could have been a lot worse and you were probably over-reacting a bit. She'll be better in a few weeks and will think nothing of what YOU did or didn't do. Don't worry about it.

seems the sarnies went down well m8. in time youll look back laffin saying never mind the broken ancel who made the sansdwiches

It is hard to say what is right. The best thing you could have done was do what you did. If you went back upstairs you would get in the way. If they needed you or wanted you they would have called you.

seems the sarnies went down well m8. in time youll look back laffin saying never mind the broken ancel who made the sansdwiches

 

 

 

In English please?

Just being there is more often than not the biggest comfort of all.

Sounds to me like you did what you could, if she understands that, you did the right thing.

seems the sarnies went down well m8. in time youll look back laffin saying never mind the broken ancel who made the sansdwiches

 

hahaha WHO MADE THE SANSWICHES

Well you can always tell her how you feel... :ohnoes:

its a common thing to happen. your brain has to many inputs and cant think of a response to your body. id say have a talk to your parents and tell them what happened and how you felt

I think you did much more then anyone else would do.

I think you're just being too hard on yourself, you did fine in my opinion.

seems the sarnies went down well m8. in time youll look back laffin saying never mind the broken ancel who made the sansdwiches

 

hahaha WHO MADE THE SANSWICHES

hahaha yeah it's as if he has no teeth and spits when he talks

 

 

 

'Who wans some sanswiches!!'

Maybe you could give her a getwell card?

 

 

 

Do dat. Dat's a good idea, dat dere.

 

 

 

Seriously, though. Just being there was probably good enough. A get well card would probably be pretty good as well. ;P

wow mr sensitive i would laugh at 1 of my sisters if they did something like that

I know you probably wanted to do something but the best thing would be to say if you need or want anything let you know and then stay out of the way or sit next to her, put your arm around her or let her cry on your shoulder.

 

 

 

It's been and gone now so just let her know you're there for her and then get out of the way and carry on with life.

wow mr sensitive i would laugh at 1 of my sisters if they did something like that

 

 

 

Lol! How old are you?

 

 

 

Anyway, thank you for your responses. I suppose I did just think that I should have done more than I did, but my sister's been fine since. It wasn't really about the fact she had a broken ankle though, as some of you interpreted it, it was about the fact that she was obviously upset. I wasn't really thinking of the long-term ramifications* at the time, so the fact that it was only a broken ankle didn't really matter.

 

 

 

I am in the proccess of writing a get-well card now which my parents seem to be delighted about. Thanks for the idea :D

 

 

 

*I used that word simply to root out which of you actually spoke English and could spell sandwhiches if you tried. :P

If you keep on asking yourself these sort of questions, it will seem to you that there would of been more for you to have done at the time.