Monday. It was a beautiful day – sunny, clear and mild. Julia was at Dave’s mother’s house and so it was Oliver and I, at the pool first and then the park. Oliver was running as soon as we hit the grass, his blonde hair twinkling in the sunlight ahead of me. He was swinging and sliding and jumping, and I sat at the edge of the playground and zoned out, my skin prickly from chlorine, the sun warm on my back.
It was the sound of dripping water that jerked me to attention and I looked up at the play structure, expecting to see Oliver emptying a bottle something over the edge. Instead I saw him standing frozen in front of the twirly slide, legs agape, wet from the waist down. There was a large wet patch on the pebbles directly beneath him.
He looked over at me. “I peed in my pants,” he stated, all matter-of-fact like.
I nodded. “I see that, buddy.”
He didn’t move. “We have to go home, right?”
I nodded again. “Yeah, we do. C’mon, we’ll go change your clothes.” I stood up and walked across the pebbles. I took his hand once he came down the steps and we walked across the grass, toward the car.
“We should have gone pee when we left the pool, eh?” I let go of his hand, ruffled his hair. “Poor guy,” I muttered, more to myself than to him, really.
I saw him look up at me from the corner of my eye. His mouth was pulled in to a half-smile and his eyes crinkled as he squinted against the sunlight.
“I’m not a poor guy, Mummy,” he said, and his tone was warm and content, almost reassuring. “I’m just a happy little boy who peed in his pants.”
***
And I love him…
35 Comments, Comment or Ping
Am I first?? My first time to comment, and I might be first?? How lucky am I??
Oliver sounds wonderful….wet pee pants and all ;)
March 19th, 2009
Aww… you’ve got a couple of really sweet kids there, mamatulip.
March 19th, 2009
That’s a great testament to who you are as a parent with him. That he feels so comfortable with what can be mortifying for a child. It’s not shameful, but so many children are treated like it is. Oliver seems so confident. That’s fantastic.
March 19th, 2009
Who could stand the power of love like that? God, he’s gorgeous, piss pants and all!
March 19th, 2009
My husband tells me that he did that and when his mother found out he told her ‘It will dry up!’. Civilized kid you’ve got there. Lovely story and beautifully told.
March 19th, 2009
Awwww,… it’s so nice that he’s so happy and trusting in you and your reaction. Makes me feel all warm and mushy.
March 19th, 2009
I love when the kids try to console us parents. Some of the most sincere moments.
March 19th, 2009
Good for you for not making him feel bad about himself. What a cute story.
March 19th, 2009
Now that is what I call a positive outlook. Good for him!
March 19th, 2009
I love him, too. What security he has. Good on you, mom!
March 19th, 2009
how could you not. awesome little man.
March 19th, 2009
What a great attitude.
I know a few other little boys who’ve done the same thing. We have friends who’s sons have both peed their pants because they were having so much fun playing soccer or climbing the jungle gym, and just couldn’t bring themselves to stop and go to the bathroom. One resourceful guy took to peeing in the bushes in his backyard so he wouldn’t have to come inside. Clever, that one.
March 19th, 2009
(melt)
March 19th, 2009
Aww, he’s beautiful.
March 19th, 2009
howcome my kids don’t say gloriously adorable things like that?
I’m going to have to crack the whip harder over here. Heh.
‘a happy little boy’ indeed.
March 19th, 2009
Seriously.
I want to EAT HIM.
NOM NOM NOM.
March 19th, 2009
no way you can get mad at that!!
March 19th, 2009
*sigh* I love your kids.
March 19th, 2009
that little guy is something special! he really is.
can i keep him?
;)
March 19th, 2009
catching up with you … I know what you mean about these breathtaking moments, so quick on the heels of the assholeness of being Little.
your words touched me, as they so often do. I think you are so great at capturing the moment, even though you think it’s passed you by. They grow up too quickly, don’t they?
March 19th, 2009
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww…
March 20th, 2009
Classic!! that reminds me of one of those love is… posters, bless the little dude.
March 20th, 2009
The little stinker just gets sweeter and sweeter every day.
March 20th, 2009
And here I thought Julia had the adorably wise comments all wrapped up!
March 21st, 2009
I think I kinda love him, too. :)
March 22nd, 2009
oh. oh. sniffy.
March 22nd, 2009
Ohhhhh, he just melts my heart.
March 22nd, 2009
Dear Lord, I love that boy. And I love the way you mother your children. Cool on both sides.
March 22nd, 2009
That’s downright beautiful, Mama T.
March 23rd, 2009
He’s awesome.
March 23rd, 2009
oh babe. you are doing such a fine job.
March 23rd, 2009
Ah, I do too.
March 24th, 2009
What a great story. Oliver rocks.
March 24th, 2009
ohmygosh I love him TOO.
March 28th, 2009
How cute is he! He is awesome.
April 14th, 2009
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