his tender heart

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Ethan is very affectionate. Sometimes its a bit much. Every time Jason or I leave the house to go somewhere (together or alone) he makes a huge fuss over giving not just a hug, but a kiss and telling us he loves us. Today he panicked when he thought Jason left without giving him a good-bye hug and kiss. I could hear him at the door telling Jason "drive safe, Daddy! I love you!" Jason yelled back "I love you too!" and Ethan replied with another "I love you too!" I told him that I think its cute that he wants to hug and kiss us when we leave and his replies was as follows... "Well, I always wanted Daddy to know that I love him. And, if he's gonna go to the store for things, if a big truck isn't looking at where he's going, he could hit Daddy's car and then I will cry because I never got to tell Daddy I love him and he's my best friend." Trying not to get all blubbery, I asked him why he thought a truck would hit Daddy, mostly because I had no idea a little 3.5 year old brain could even go there.

His reply -- "Renember we were driving to Marine World and we saw those cars had crashed and you were sad? And we saw the a-n-b-u-w-a-n-c-e guy taking that man out and his kids were hurt too? And you told Daddy that you were sad because they lost their Daddy? If that happens to our Daddy's car someday I will want to know I told him I love him and gave him a hug."

Wow.

Comments

Emily said…
Tears to my eyes, Stef. That is the same reason I am very deliberate about goodbye hugs and kisses and I love yous every time I go somewhere or when Matt leaves.

Kids can be so amazing and so deep sometimes.
November 30, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Denise said…
Wow!! I can't believe he put that all together. Be thankful that Ethan is affectionate because Kayla is quite the opposite. She climbs all over me all the time, but she really doesn't want to give hugs and kisses too much. A lot of times I will try to kiss her and she tells me "no kisses mommy". I give her about 50 million kisses a day though so she better get used to it. Brayden on the other hand is my affectionate boy and is always willing to give loves.
December 1, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Erin said…
Ah! I am crying! I feel the same way as Ethan.
December 1, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Acy said…
Girl, your pics are so cute.. going a little camera happy eh? :) I loved rachel's shirt, where'd you get it? also... how many times are you going to change your blog template??? :) hahaha.. they are really cute.

-jen
December 1, 2008 at 8:37 AM
Stef said…
Denise, I'm with you there. Rachel is affectionate, but not nearly as much as Ethan. If she's hurt, she's very needy for affection, but otherwise, she's just fine without it. I think she follows Ethan's cue, so if he's running to give hugs and such, she has to get in on it. :) However, I've noticed if I ask Ethan for a hug or kiss or just say "I love you" he reciprocates very well. Rachel kind of acts like "what will I get out of this?" :)

Jennie - I know! I have the attention span of a fruit fly, as my husband would say. I love trying new themes and layouts. This layout is a favorite of mine, but not my favorite pattern. I am extremely picky, what can I say.
The shirt on Rachel... you mean in the Thanksgiving Day pix? Its from Gymboree. I bought her shirt/dress there (major sale) and then Kara wore the matching pants. We had fun. :)
December 1, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Erin said…
Ah! I am crying! I feel the same way as Ethan.
April 2, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Stef said…
Denise, I'm with you there. Rachel is affectionate, but not nearly as much as Ethan. If she's hurt, she's very needy for affection, but otherwise, she's just fine without it. I think she follows Ethan's cue, so if he's running to give hugs and such, she has to get in on it. :) However, I've noticed if I ask Ethan for a hug or kiss or just say "I love you" he reciprocates very well. Rachel kind of acts like "what will I get out of this?" :)

Jennie - I know! I have the attention span of a fruit fly, as my husband would say. I love trying new themes and layouts. This layout is a favorite of mine, but not my favorite pattern. I am extremely picky, what can I say.
The shirt on Rachel... you mean in the Thanksgiving Day pix? Its from Gymboree. I bought her shirt/dress there (major sale) and then Kara wore the matching pants. We had fun. :)
April 2, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Emily Bertholic said…
Tears to my eyes, Stef. That is the same reason I am very deliberate about goodbye hugs and kisses and I love yous every time I go somewhere or when Matt leaves.

Kids can be so amazing and so deep sometimes.
April 2, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Gina said…
How extremely sensitive Ethan is! I try to be deliberate about my good byes for the same reason. But the fact that he's internalized that--wow! His emotional IQ is huge! There will be a benefit to that somewhere down the line.
April 2, 2011 at 6:04 PM
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