Lessons “Burned”

by Jo

This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking a four mile hike with my two oldest children. Before starting out, we got together our gear and I made extra sure to rub both kids down with plenty of sunscreen. As an afterthought, I haphazardly smeared a little on my own arms, neck, face, and nose.

As we hiked up the mountain we were sure to pace ourselves so we didn’t tire out too quickly. (This was our first difficult hike together). The weather was perfect for a day outside -- not too hot and a light breeze to cool us off as we went. This made me wonder if I should have worried about sunburns at all.

It was a hard walk and although we didn’t make it all the way to the top, we had a lot of fun talking, joking, and encouraging each other along the way. After we finished our hike, I checked the kids and proudly announced that we had made it without anyone getting sunburned. We were tired but everyone was in one piece and feeling pretty proud of ourselves.

Later as I was sitting on the couch trying to relax, I noticed pain on the back of my right shoulder. Sure enough, I had missed a few spots with the sunscreen and now had several small sunburns across my shoulders, forehead, and neck. I had been so worried about the children that I had given very little concern to my own care, even though I am the one who burns the worst every year because of my light complexion.

So as we head into sunburn season this year, remember to not only protect the children with high SPF sunscreen but yourself as well. Have someone get all the little spots you can’t reach yourself so you don’t end up with a spotty burn like me. After all, it’s hard to have fun with your family if you’re too busy recovering from your lessons “burned”.

Jo is a 30-year-old mother of three miracles (14, 11, and 2 1/2), a wife to Vinny, a poet, an aspiring writer, and a three-time cancer survivor.

Comments

[Maria P.]

Oh that is my life every time we go out. Leave it up to me to pack very well for my two small children and forget even a hat for myself on a trip to my in-law's cabin in the rockies in the middle of winter.

[Mama C-ta]

Great tip b/c I need the reminder. I lather my son up but never care about my skin and always regret it. I bought the "disappearing blue" sunscreen by Avon with bug repellant, it helps ensure I got my baby covered and didn't miss any spots.

[Meg]

I also am the first in my family to burn. I've been using a no-rub sport spray for the last couple of years and it's great. No more sunscreen all over your hands to wash off! That and then a face stick to get the cheeks, nose and chin.

[Robin P]

When Lillianna and I go to the pool,I have her rub sunscreen on my back because I can't reach it. She's good at it because my back never burns.

[Kelly]

It seems like I have to re-learn the burn lesson all over again, every year. My brain just refuses to believe that I can burn before July.

[Lisa]

You are just lucky that you have enough sunshine to get burned. We are still suffering the rain and cold here in Ireland and probably won't feel any heat until at least June!

Try calamine lotion for the sunburn it works a treat (or if its really severe rub a raw tomato on it, don't know why, but it works)