Just when I was feeling like my 8 year old was getting too big and didn’t need me as much anymore, he proved to me that he will always need me. Last night, we came in kind of late. The kids had a long day at the park with their father and, in the evening, the adults sat outside in front of the house while the kids rode their bikes. It wasn’t particularly hot yesterday and the kids were drinking throughout the afternoon so I felt they were getting enough hydration.
We finally came inside right around midnight and my son turned to me and told me he had a really bad headache. I immediately felt his forehead to see if he had a fever but he felt cool to the touch. Since he kept complaining that his head hurt, I gave him some children’s Tylenol and made him lay down on the couch. That is where I left him to relax while I went to change the dog’s water bowl in the kitchen.
All of a sudden, my son runs past me into the bathroom and proceeds to start vomiting. I ran in there after him, let him finish before I cleaned everything up, and put cold water on his head and face to try to soothe him. He asked me to call my husband because he was scared and I assured him that everything was going to be alright and that I was there and his father was coming soon. For the first time in a long time, he was not an independent 8 year old but my vulnerable baby.
Later on, he was too weak from throwing up to take a shower so he asked me to bathe him. This was also surprising because I haven’t bathed my son in years as he is a big boy now. As he sat in the tub, while I washed him up, I couldn’t help thinking that no matter how big our children get, they are always going to need us at some point or another throughout their lives. Whenever things get scary or overwhelming, they will always remember the love and protection that we have surrounded them with as their parents.
His father and I dressed him in his pajamas and put him to bed with a bucket by his side and a bottle of Gatorade should he get thirsty throughout the night. Apparently it was some kind of 24 hour bug because he woke up fine this morning and all previous traces of the scared boy from the night before were gone. I’m so glad he is better and it is good to know that, even though he is now a big boy, he will always need his Mommy.
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No matter how old they get, our kids will always need their mommy at some point. And we will always be there.
Glad he’s feeling better.
Thanks, Nicole. He definitely seems to be feeling a whole lot better. You are absolutely right, no matter what happens we will always be there for them…
So glad he is fine and so touching that it’s obvious he loves his mommy very much (and vice versa!).
I wish I could recover that quickly! Amazing how resilient our kids are! Sweet story – loved it!
Sick kids are the worst! Mine is only 3.5 and starting to become more and more independent. It’s sad and makes me happy at the same time.
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Your poor son! My daughter just had a night like that just a few days ago. Instead of vomiting her’s was a fever of 103 that I fought to keep down. I spent most of the night (2-8 a.m.) snuggled with her in her bottom bunk.
I’m glad to hear he’s feeling better.
That is such a sweet story. I have an almost 8 year old too and it upsets me how quickly he is growing. I tell him “you will always be my baby.”
Such a touching story. I can definitely relate since I have a 9 year old boy, they will always be our babies.
Just a word of caution with the children’s tylenol… I know it was recalled last year and I could not find a bottle on the shelf for a while. I switched to children’s advil since. Just a head’s up in case you were not aware of this info 🙂
It’s hard to see them grow so quickly. As long as they stay close at heart it’s all ok. I am glad to hear he is feeling better. Stopping by from Relax and Surf Sunday. Hope you have a great week.
So sweet…I am also the mom of an 8 year old boy, and I know exactly what you mean. He keeps telling me he doesn’t want to hold my hand any more because he’s grown up! It makes me laugh and cry at the same time…