I have an ear infection. I’m sure it has something to do with not allowing my unusually small ear canals to drain properly after spending nine to twelve hours in the pool every single day last week. Sometimes relaxation has a price, my friends. And the price for me, apparently, is the cost of a co-pay to the ENT.
Anyway, I’ve been running a little teeny bit of fever, so tonight, after I loaded the dishwasher, I retired to my sickbed so that I could prop myself up against some comfy pillows and nurse my splitting eardrum while checking Twitter and watching “Flipping Out.” Just as our forefathers did in ye olden days.
I could hear Alex talking to his daddy while I was resting, and about thirty minutes later, he took a shower, washed his hair, put on his pajamas – and then he made a point to check on me. He asked about my ear, expressed concern when I told him that it still hurt, then gave me a big hug and told me that since I wasn’t feeling great he was going to leave me alone and let me be quiet.
I may or may not have gotten a little catch in my throat as I watched him walk out of the room. He really is the most tenderhearted little guy I have ever known. Granted, he’s a walking sound effect who can’t wait for football season and who’s mildly obsessed with any word related to the restroom, but still. He’s kind. Protective. Strong in ways I never expected.
A few minutes later the seven year-old walked back in the room, and he handed me a book that I’ve been trying to read for the last month or so. I can’t seem to get into it, so it’s been sitting in my pool bag for what feels like a sweet forever. Then he spoke up:
“I know you’re not feeling good, and this is the only thing I know how to make, Mama.”
And as I looked into the big blue eyes of a boy who’s getting bigger by the day, I realized that while my ear may be a little on the achy side right now, I am quite certain that my heart has never felt better.
The end.
Precious. I still treasure those sorts of memories, especially now that my girl is grown up and in college. I know you’re so glad you have your blog to keep a “permanent record” of sorts!
Hi BooMama! I have been reading for a while, but never responded before. I just had to today – what a sweet boy! My boy is 15 and just the other day he said to me “I didn’t want to hang out with my friends today, because I haven’t been able to spend time with you and I wanted to hang with you today!” I asked him if he had a fever!! They can be so sweet when you least expect it. I hope you feel better soon!!!
That sweetness is a reflection of his great parents! Get that ear better!
What a sweet post!!
What a precious boy! Sounds like you raised a great one & can you hold him for my daughter one day? She’s only three though :)
ah melt my heart! you are a great parent…raising a sweet boy!!
Sounds like HE is your medicine.:o)
So sweet!
Dear Overflowing Heart,
You and I must be on the same wave-link… I just posted about the joy of boys and the unexpected gifts that come from mothering them. No one can truly make you understand a boy and the feeling of raising one… It has to be felt in a firsthand, face-to face, over-you-head sort of way.
Love,
Don’t Let It Go Too Quickly In NE
I have three sons and it is such a joy to raise them. Boys really do love their mommas.
I have three boys, the youngest being 6. I have been threatening for a while now that I am going to put him into the dryer and shrink him back to when he was 2 1/2. I blinked and my oldest went from 3 days old to a tall, muscular, hairy 13 year old.
What a sweet post. There is something about the role reversal, when boys begin to take care of their moms, that is just precious.
Hope that ear is better soon!
Oh, how sweet!!
My. Word.
What a wonderful blessing! You guys are doing a fabulous job with him. I hope your ear feels better!
The Park Wife
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and many times I’ve thought what a sweet little guy he is. He seems very nurturing and it sounds like your family is very close. You are blessed!
Pure sweetness
Awwwwwww!!!!! Hope you feel better soon!!!
OH, sweet boy. He’s just perfect. <3
Oh my word, I had to wipe away tears…..how did you not dissolve into a complete puddle??? What a darling, sweet boy!
How adorable! ! ! He is just the cutest boy! ! ! I hope you feel better!
oh my. tissue please.
Now I believe that would have been the sweetest post ever had you not linked to the ear impaction post. You see, I couldn’t leave well enough alone and I re-read it. I should have known better. Because, just like a little over 3 years ago, I threw up in my mouth a little. Don’t believe me? Check out your first comment to that post.
Be still my heart. What a blessing our tenderhearted children are. I got an outer ear infection a couple of years ago and thought it might just be the most painful thing ever…well almost anyway. Since then I have been diligent to use a dose of hydrogen peroxide in each ear after swimming when I feel like there is water that has not left the building. My kids all line up laying down with their heads on a towel and I fill each ear with the peroxide, let it fizz for a minute or so then they roll over and out comes the peroxide in the first ear and they are ready for the other. No ear infections since. My doctor was the one that reminded me of the hydrogen peroxide, however after that I remembered that my mom used to treat our ears with it when we were little. Hope you feel better soon.
Feel better, sweetie! And enjoy your precious little one. What a treasure!
I saw that comment on Twitter (yes, I stalk, er, follow you there too) and wondered about the whole story. So glad you posted it and so glad you are blessed with such a caring Little Man!
Way to go, Alex!
How sweet is he?? Best medicine there is!
stoppit. seriously, boomama. that is the cutest thing i’ve ever heard.
p.s. sorry about your ear. :(
Wow. That’s all.
SO sorry about the ear but oh my goodness That Howard is one special little man – you and your DH obviously have done some good work there!
Awwwwwwwwww…so cute! Hope you’re feeling better.
That is really special! Seriously. One day you will have a very grateful daughter-in-law.
Hope you are feeling much better very, very soon!
Oh Oh Oh!
Take care of yourself now, ya hear?
Maybe this will make your ear feel better….
http://www.medicalbillingschool.org/blog/health-benefits-of-bacon-infographic/?clean
Awwww…so sweet *sniff* *sniff*…
Alex sounds like my sweet Elizabeth. She’s so tender.
And, I’m facing a certain ear infection in the coming days if my left ear doesn’t properly respond to some drops of rubbing alcohol. Apparently, my ears don’t agree that I’m still cool enough to do a flip off the diving board.
Maybe I’ll have Elizabeth talk to them. Because she is oh-so-impressed at my coolness for flipping and cartwheeling off the diving board into the pool.
Now, where did I put my caster oil and ibuprofen??? ;)
Nothing but a big ol’ AWWWWWW.
If I was about 10 years younger I would claim him as mine down the road. But Caroline already has him, so it’ll be a happy ending. Hehe.
Oh, he is so sweet! What a blessing.