One thing you learn really quickly when you have three young children in the house (particularly young BOY children), is that there are going to be A LOT of bumps and bruises. Sometimes they are fairly minor, and the kids never even notice. Sometimes they are a little more significant and require more attention from parents ... or more specifically, Mommy.
One favorite cure-all is Band-Aids. Kids love Band-Aids. Doesn't particularly matter whether the injury in question really NEEDS a Band-Aid ... to a child, it NEEDS a Band-Aid. It may not be bleeding ... there may not even be a mark on him, but he NEEDS a Band-Aid. If he actually gets one, he's usually fine. I try not to give them one all the time, because I'd have to take out stock in Johnson & Johnson. Sometimes, though, I give them one just to make them happy, which in turn makes them feel better. Somehow, seeing my kids run around with a Band-Aid on seems oddly appropriate, and it often makes me think of my father, who family stories say used to sing about going to Alabama with a Band-Aid (instead of a banjo) on his knee.
The other go-to in our "ouchie" first-aid kit is Mommy kisses. Remember those? Believe it or not, we still use them! A bump or a bang can often be helped by Mommy "kissing it and making it better." Don't ask me why it works ... but there is definitely something magical about it to a child. Maybe it's a subconscious thing ... where you are teaching your child that, yes, it hurts, but it'll be ok ... Mommy is there and loves you and will do everything she can to help take the hurt away. All I know is that most little boy hurts can be fixed, or at least helped, by a cuddle and a kiss to make it better. My youngest has even extended the "kiss fix" to include himself. If he hurts himself, he'll plant a kiss on his own hand and put it where ever it hurts, which makes it "all better." Once in a while, if it's a really BIG hurt, it'll need Mommy kisses, too, but a lot of times he can handle it himself. Such a big guy!
I'll be glad when my kids get big enough to pay a little more attention to what they are doing and don't end up hurting themselves so often, because I don't like having my kids hurt. But I have to admit that I'm thankful for the days of Band-Aids and Mommy kisses. I know that one of these days they'll get old enough they won't need or want them any more. And one of these days, the hurts will change, too ... whether it's actual injuries or the first time their heart gets broken ... and a simple kiss from Mommy won't really be of much help then. So despite what sometimes seems like a constant stream of tears and wails from one, or all, of my little boys each day, I'll continue to take the time to cuddle them and kiss it and make it better. I intend to hold on to my "magical" status as long as I can.
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