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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Then and now

Tonight as I tucked Charlie into bed, he was a little weepy. I asked him if he wanted me to sing him the songs I used to sing when he was a baby. He indulged me and said "yes."

I started patting his back -- patting, not rubbing. None of my kids like to have their backs rubbed. And I began to sing what I used to call my "love medley." It starts with "Jesus Loves the Little Children," then segue's into a song from a kid's music CD. The lyrics to that one go:

I love you so much, I love you so much,
I can't even tell you how much I love you.

You're special to me, you're special to me,
I'm lucky to have you as part of my life.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

I love you so much, I love you so much. I can't even tell you how much. I. love. you.


After that one comes the Barney song. You know, "I love you, you love me..."

The moment with Charlie tonight was a comforting snapshot of "then."

The "now?" Not as comforting!

We went to my brother's graduation party last weekend. Charlie wanted to know if high school kids would be there. When I said yes, he got more specific. Would high school girls be there? Yes, Charlie.

So this was the scene for most of the evening:

Charlie court

When the audience wasn't quite as captive, Charlie came outside to where I was talking with my sister Shelley, who was holding her son one-year-old son Josh.

"Aunt Shell?" interrupted Charlie. "Can I take Josh inside?"

"Why do you need to take Josh inside," I asked.

"Well," he said without shame or hesitation, "the high school girls like babies and they think he's cute. So I want to take him in there with me."

I couldn't believe it. My not-yet-11-year-old son was using his cousin as a chick magnet! I'm gonna have to keep an eye on that kid. Anyone know a good all-boys school?

5 comments:

Nancy said...

That is so funny. My stepson's have done the same thing with their little sister though. Babies are chick magnets!

Beth said...

My boys are 9 and 8. I can't even think about that stuff yet. It makes me want to cry, scream, run away from this whole mommy thing. I want them to stay innocent little boys forever!

Annie said...

That is too funny! They grow up too fast!

Joanie said...

OMG Amy! That is just too funny!!! Smart boy!!!

Beth Zimmerman said...

Oh my goodness! This made me laugh! They surely do grow up fast!