Since our big move into the new house the kids have spent the majority of their time playing on the “grounds” We have 2 plus acres of mixed forest, meadow, fruit trees and grass.
Big, open spreads of flat grass just asking for a swimming pool
Begging for one really.
Except the kids aren’t asking for a swimming pool. They are asking for a trampoline.
Now, I know that doesn’t sound ALL that bad, I mean, trampolines ARE cheaper than outdoor pools. They are also easier to maintain.
And the dogs probably won’t leap onto them every chance they get.
But herein lies the problem.
I am 40 now. And had 3 beautiful bouncing babies over the last decade. Three c-sections, and three recoveries. I bounced back and lost my “baby weight” and regained the partnership of my body three times.
But things just aren’t the same.
I have kegelled until I could kegel no more, and while I can now sneeze without worry, there are still a few things that I just choose not to experience anymore.
A trampoline is one.
In fact, bouncing on anything that creates a gravitational pull on my bladder is pretty much the big one. The worst nightmare experience.
When I was younger, and 30 and had just come back from having my first beautiful bouncing baby, I had yet to experience the “force of the trampoline”. I was feeling myself again, and I believe I was wearing denim overalls (don’t ask. . . I think they must have been cool back then) and we were visiting friends.
I may have had a blueberry tea in me (my grown up drink of choice at the time)
And they had a trampoline.
I could hear it calling my name as I experienced a moment of freedom with other adults, away from my infant child. Maybe it was the denim overalls reminding me of youthful summers, pigtails and bum drops, but I kept glancing at the tramp(oline), flirting with it, waiting for the right moment to make my move.
Well, the time did come. And I did jump. And As my feet touched the springy bottom of the trampoline and I prepared to launch myself into the sky and perform an amazing arial, my bladder hit the bottom of the trampoline as well.
I was shocked and amazed. For gods sake I was THIRTY. I was a baby still. . . and here I was peeing my pants in public.
Actually. Peeing my overalls. My groovy denim overalls.
And there was an actual puddle on the trampoline.
Initially I blamed the blueberry tea and it’s mystical qualities, but over time the truth came out. My bladder control has weakened and I was now limited to what what activities I could do.
Granted I can still water ski (no one can see the pee) and snow ski (do you know how much padding a ski suit has) and participate in a HUGE range of activities, but trampoline jumps are out.
Unless of course I grab myself a pair of Depend.
Did you know that urinary incontinence is common in women who have assisted deliveries, or deliver large babies (perhaps like my 10lb 4 ounce first child) It is a common complaint, and while we may laugh at it, there is nothing funny about peeing your overalls on a trampoline.
Approximately 3.3 million Canadians are affected by bladder control issues, but the topic is not widely discussed. Many sufferers are deterred from talking about it or seeking help because of feelings of shame and embarrassment.
On their website Depend® is passionate in helping to bring back confidence and freedom to people who suffer with bladder control issues through inspiring videos and true personal stories. They want you to know that there is nothing awkward about getting answers about incontinence so they have created incontinence guides for women and men, filled with the answers you have been looking for.
For now the kids continue to pester me for their trampoline as I wave glossy swimming pool brochures under their noses (something else I can do without worrying about peeing my overalls) and I finally had to tell them, the ONLY way this momma is getting on a trampoline is if I am wearing Depend.
Of course, they asked what depend were. . .
which led us to a whole NEW topic of course.
I guess only time will tell if I get this body back on a trampoline. . stay tuned to find out!
“Disclosure: I am part of the Depend® Fit-Flex Blogger Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.”