“Mom!!” It was a two-syllable use of my name, accompanied by a serious-sounding wail.
I glanced up from the table, which I was polishing with Murphy’s Almond Oil spray.
Ben came tumbling around the entrance to the kitchen via the center hallway. As usual, he appeared disheveled. His pants were too short. His hair was all over the place. But he wasn’t, as I noted when I took him in with that practiced sort of inspection that takes all moms about ten milliseconds, in any real pain.
“Mo—oooooom!” He rubbed his belly for emphasis, “Maddie hit me really hard in the stomach and it hurts.”
I nodded, taking in the scent of the spray, which mixed in a comforting way with the vinegar Travis used to make Mrs. Rogers salad dressing (which is really just an excuse to add ketchup to a totally unsuspecting dish). In a level voice, I asked, “Why did she hit you?”
He bounced on his feet, explaining things as much visually as with language. “She said I was annoying her, and then I did this,” he paused to show something with his arms, “And that I wouldn’t stop singing, and so she hit me.”
I finished the section of the table I was working on and then nodded in his direction.
Without further discussion, he raced off, and less than two seconds later, he bellowed from the bottom of the stairs, “Maddie! Mom said I could hit you back! So that’s what I’m comin’ to do!”
I chuckled, and with my voice still cracking from the effects of bronchitis, called up after him, “Did not!”
Just as we have the mom-scan inside our brains, where we can assess an entire situation in that millisecond, little boys have the ability to conjure up an entire conversation in theirs which validates their every thought, Let’s hear it for little boys!!
LOL–good point!
LOL. Enjoy it while you can. They grow up entirely too fast. I loved every stage & age that my 2 kids went through growing up. Today they are 35 & 36.
Love the Ben story………I am chuckling too
Grinning too!
You gotta give him points for trying!
For sure lol!
You empathized…he authorized
LOL! True!
Are these scripts universal or what? I had the same kinds of interactions with my sons. You gotta love the drama!
Yes–the scripts totally ARE universal lol!! And I do, I do!
Love your calm!
I once did tell my older son to hit my younger son. There is a story to this, it isn’t as bad as it sounds, really I promise.
Not sure if it was calm or just resignation lol. Oh do tell! And we’ve often given the nod to a retaliatory punch or two.
Oldest son was sick and napping on top bunk. Other mother always told him he was not allowed to hit baby brother. This was before they lived with me full-time. They were around 6 and 8 years old. So, youngest so thinking he could get away with anything went into bedroom and lay down on bottom bunk and begin the aggravation, kicking top bunk and generally being an annoyance. I could hear it.
“Stop it!”
“I don’t have too.”
“Stop it I don’t feel good.”
“I don’t have too.”
Kick, kick, bunk slats rattle. He giggles.
“I am going to tell mom.”
“So what she can’t do anything.”
Older son comes out and tells me what is happening. I told him give one warning then smack him a good one. Back in the room he goes. I hear him, “If you don’t stop it I am going to punch you.”
“You aren’t allowed to hit me.”
A minute goes by. Slates rattle. Suddenly a wail. Younger son comes out of bedroom, tears streaming down his face, “Matt hit me!”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes you do, why did he hit you?”
“Cause I was bothering him.”
“That is right and I told him he was allowed to. Now go to other room and leave your brother alone. You were being terrible to him, you are supposed to love him and care he is sick.”
“I am telling Dad Matt hit me.”
“Okay.”
Five hours later his father came home and he met him at the door with big crocodile tears and a story of woe. His father reacted the same way I did. From then on though, his brother was allowed to defend himself. Shortly after the boys begin living with us full-time.
Yeah!!!! Good job MAMA!!!
It is a story both of them still remember vividly
Yup, I imagine so (grinning).
I don’t know if this story rang familiar bells in my head from my childhood with 8 siblings, or if it was a reflection on my own years of mothering my two girls. (Yes, I could easily sub my girls into this story) Either way, you’ve perfectly captured a slice of classic motherhood and childhood in a moment! Loved it!
Awww thank you Mary! For sure, it could have been girls or boys, and really anyone’s kids–that’s the beauty of observing the human condition, whether it’s in your own kitchen or at the local coffee shop–ya know? ~el
That’s just too cute of a story! Hugs! XOXO-Kasey
Thank you bunches dear Kasey!! xoxo
El, you make me smile
thank you. xx
Much love to you my friend! xo
Loud smiles. Thank you. And Ben. And Maddie. In fact, thank you all. I needed to smile today.
Morning my friend!! I hope you find lots of smiles this morning as well!!
Moo-ooom!!! I need something!! LOL! I loved this, because I have heard them.
LOL!!! Morning my friend!!