Monday, April 23, 2012

Huggles and Ham Sandwiches

He clomped in from outside, rosy cheeked and smelling of grass, fresh air and that inexplicable smell of boy.  He was riding his bike outside with the other kids on the street and had worked up an appetite as he so declared as soon as he came through the door.

"Mumma! I'm hungry!"

I was already in the kitchen feeding my little one who sat on his knees on the chair at our round, wooden kitchen table.

"Would you like a ham sandwich?"

"Of-course!  Or uhhh....maybe a hot dog?"

"Did you know that ham is actually a flattened hot dog?"  The energy for hot dog making wasn't in me.

"Okay!  With mustard!"

As I squeezed the tart yellow spread onto the bread, he asked if he could help.  I gave him a butter knife and told him to spread it out right to the edges.

(It's important to me that each mouthful has perfect portions of ham to bread to mustard ratio.)

He spread some out and then asked for help with the rest.  I placed my grown Mother hand over top of his still growing four year old boy one and we took the time to evenly cover the rest of it together.

I finished up the sandwich and placed it on a plate (uncut as per his request) with baby carrots and off he went carefully carrying the plate out to eat his lunch on the front step amongst his friends.

Later that night in his bed, twilight surrounding us, I scooped him close and cradled him like the baby he is no longer.  His long legs hung lanky across my forearm, his already muscular arms folded between my chest and his as I curled him in close to me.  I kissed the top of his head and told him my thanks for the day....

"I'm thankful for your hugs and snuggles.  Your huggles!"  I said with a smile.  It's a word I recently made up and it makes my boys laugh.  He looked up at me and giggled and said, "Mumma?  You know what I'm thankful for?"

I love hearing what he has to say during these moments.  It always surprises me.  Pleasantly so.

"No...what are you grateful for today baby?"

"Ham sandwiches."

Ah yes.  I knew just what he meant.

Ham sandwiches made with the special ingredient that makes everything taste that much more delicious.

Ham sandwiches...made with love.

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It's been a few weeks since my last link up over at my favourite writing community and I've missed them all! Please take some time and head on over to read, read, read to your heart's content.  It's worth not getting anything done around your house! (just make sure your kids are fed and watered)

24 comments:

Stacey said...

Such sweetness! I love it! I am a sandwich perfectionist and have taught my boys to be, as well. Drives my husband crazy! :-) And a flattened hot dog! I will have to remember that! But really, such sweetness. My favorite paragraph is the one that starts, "Later that night..." So well written!

Kristin said...

How delicious! We love huggles in our house too! ;).
Now I'd love to figure out how to get my girls turned onto ham sandwiches.....
Love this piece of writing January!

Kim S. said...

What an entirely sweet post. And creative diversion from the hot dog ask. I'll have to use that in the future! You want pasta? Well, rice is just tiny pasta! Eat up!

SIsterhood of the Sensible Moms said...

That's delicious!! I love the simple moments like that with our kids. I love when I can speak volumes to them about how much I care with the little hints I do for them. Lovely piece, Erin

Heidi said...

This is so sweet. I love those simple, every-day moments, the little things that just melt your heart.
I might have to steal 'huggles' from you.:)

Mondays with Mac said...

Aww. So sweet!

Phase Three of Life said...

*tear*

Beautiful!

Ado said...

This was just like comfort food...and with the calories! (-:
Ham sandwiches!
In Ireland they call 'em Ham Sambos, or "Hambos." (-:

Donna B. McNicol said...

Sweet, sweet post! Thanks for sharing.

Gia said...

Aww, how very sweet!

According to Mags... said...

This is such a sweet post. The word huggles is adorable.

Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravy said...

Very, very sweet! And I'm with you getting that mustard spread out just right is very important. I've never thought of ham as being a "flat hot dog" before, but that's definitely a tactic I'm going to try on my nephew.

Great post!

Aubrey Anne said...

I am definitely going to start this routine with my boys! How sweet to see what they are thankful for each day! Also, my kid's preschool teacher nicknamed him "hugglish" because he loves to get hugs! I love preschoolers!

Rebekah said...

So beautiful! My son puts words together to make up new words as well - Friend + Aunt = Fraunt. ;) Love those things about kids! Great post!

Michelle Longo said...

So sweet!! Our boys are around the same age - I know exactly what you speak of. Loved it!

Unknown said...

That is precious. I totally get your mustard to bread to ham ratio. I do the same thing and Husband thinks I'm insane.

I love those moments with my 4 year old. He's between toddler and big boy and I'm trying to savor every moment he lets me snuggle him because I know soon enough he will wriggle away.

Steph said...

Very sweet post. The sort of moments you most want to capture so years later you can read it and have that feeling all over again.

tinkerdixiebell said...

Love when kids show us what is important. And not getting everything done around the house to write is crucial.

Unknown said...

love.this. these little moments, make life don't they?

Unknown said...

Aww, such a sweet story. I love the word "huggles" and I just might have to steal it. Hope you don't mind :)

Dude of The House said...

I'm not a ham eater, but I had to eat this story up. Thanks for sharing.

jamie said...

Awww... what a sweet post. It means a world to parents when their children appreciate and recognise their efforts and love ;)

Alison said...

The always-hard, push and pull of motherhood? This, this is why we do it. Day in, day out. Gorgeous, January.

Jackie said...

I do believe I may start using Huggles in my everyday lexicon!
Love it!