A Few Things About Edmund

Last week, I missed the all school mass.  A friend called to see if I had been there.  I said, "No, why? Did Edmund answer a question?"  "What do you think?"  was her reply.

Now, I have given Edmund strict instructions not to answer any questions at Mass. You just never know what he's going to say.  I've chuckled when some kid confused Mother Teresa and Oprah.  Or when one little tike promised a visiting priest her dad's tickets to the Bears vs. Packers game.

I knew it would happen someday.

Actually, Edmund did not embarrass himself.  He answered the question quite well.  It was after the homily, when our pastor decided to share with the congregation the comment Edmund made 5 years ago when they first met.

"You're old."

Apparently, everyone thought this was hilarious.  Especially, Edmund's third grade class.  In fact, they couldn't stop giggling.  Fr. Tom had to reprimand them, "It's not that funny."

Right now, the assistant chaplain from Peter's prep school is watching the Knicks game in my family room.  I can hear Fr. John cracking up because Edmund had to give him a "gun" show.

He's the only nine year old I know who works out.  He does pull ups on our stairwell.  He likes to do sit ups and push ups too.  He's always asking me to check to make sure he's doing his push ups correctly.  Like I know or something.

Today, I was walking the mall with a friend.  I think we may have burned more calories gabbing than walking, but the great thing is....I didn't buy anything.  Figures, since I have a store credit that I couldn't find anything.

Any who, we were talking about how little kids turn into big kids SO freaking fast!

And it makes me ache.  The way one day, they can't fall asleep without you and the next day they are taller than you and the only thing they want from you is unlimited texting.


Edmund has some allergies, and he frequently has eczema.  Last night, he was particularly itchy, so I made him a bath with one of these.

 

After his bath, I was slathering Eucerin creme all over his scaly limbs, and I said, 

Remember when you were little, and I used to lie down with you on your bottom bunk to take a nap?  You used to say, "I don't want to take a nap."  And I would tell you, "You don't have to go to sleep, you just have to lie here quietly for awhile."  And we would pretend to be bunnies hiding under leaves in a forest."

He said, "Yeah, and I used to always make sure I was touching you, because I thought if I'm touching her, I will wake up when she gets up, but I never did."

Oh, to snuggle my little guy again.  To nap in his cozy bunk, to sneak downstairs with my mad ninja skills only to hear his little feet coming down moments later.  

Damn, I love that kid.