When my children were little, I loved them so much that it would occasionally cause my heart to ache. I’m not speaking metaphorically either – sometimes the feeling would be so overwhelming that I’d actually feel physical discomfort.
They were so loving and trusting and perfect that I never wanted them to grow up. I couldn’t imagine what kind of relationship I might have with them as adults.
Of course, they did grow up, and they’ve enriched our lives in the process, beyond anything we could ever have dreamed of.
Big Boy is now eighteen. Every Friday morning, he heads into town to do a couple of hours paid work for his Auntie Kate. It’s not much, but it gives him a tiny bit of spending money.
Around midday, I’ll get a phone call…
“Mum, have you sorted anything for lunch yet?”
“Not yet, what did you have in mind?”
“Would you like a pork roll?”
And then Big Boy, one of the great loves of my life, will spend $5 of his hard-earned money and buy me a pork salad roll from the Vietnamese bakery. It’s full of processed mystery meat, heartburn-inducing chilli, and a strange, unidentifiable pâté, encased in a crusty white bread roll.
I devour it with enormous enthusiasm.
With every bite, I think to myself…“Big Boy loves me.”
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Oooh, that’s just so sweet. That’s made me smile and smile and smile. :)
This is the most heart warming post ever! Kudos to Big Boy for loving his Mommy so much!
:-) Mandy
That is just the perfect post to start my day…..
wonderful! I’ve never had kids myself, but do live vicariously through the love of many Moms for their kids
How lovely. Boys can be such a delight. I beat my son at Snakes and Ladders once ( I usually let him win) and he said “Good on you Mum.” I think I knew at this point he would be a nice man.
I wonder if one of my girls (7 & 10) will be so thoughtful at that age!
You are one lucky mum!
Perfect!
Such a sweet lad he is, testimony to your parenting :)
Misty-eyed over here. So so so so sweet. This is the kind of relationship I hope for when my kiddos get older…..I’m still in the heart-aching-with-love stage now. :)
Make me weepy, C, before I’ve had my coffee.
I know that people say, “Food is not love” but honestly, one of the ways in my family that we take care of each other is with food. We cook nice meals, make coffee and tea, eat together and celebrate holidays by gathering around the table.
Hugs, Maz.
Oh so sweet! Now I’m thinking…will I ever have that beautiful moment with my son when he grows up :)
Include me in the Misty-Eyed Club, just a beautiful column… One’s love for their children grows and grows sometimes to the point where one thinks the heart will explode… And sometime it happily does. Blessings on you and your perfect Big Boy!
I never had a daughter- but I love the ways boys show love.
And you are right- he LOVES you!
I discovered my youngest loved me with a cup of coffee that he made to share with me (and a chat.)
Treasure the pork roll and the LOVE.
Big Boys are a gift from God.
You should be proud of how well you have raised your boys!
Boys are great. Mine washes and vacuums the car without being asked, puts in petrol from the proceeds of his part time job without being asked. At 17 he totally sorted the car after a moderate accident, and dealt with the repairs and insurance issues. Now he is finished the HSC I have tried to get him cooking but that is not so easy! Recently I have been researching miniturised heat exchange technology and you know I think before too long one will be able to have a refridgerator and cooking facilities attached to a normal car, You will be able to open the bonnet and there will be a mini kitchen. Big boys will love it!
Celia that is a lovely anecdote. As a past high school teacher I get a special heart string tug reading such a story, older kids don’t get the public kudos that smaller children do so, to me, it’s especially lovely when they do.
On ya Big Boy!
I understand exactly how you feel.
Very nice Celia. He sounds like a very lovely big boy
Awwww, what’s not to love Celia?
I hope he doesn’t read this post and get all embarrased, but he is such a sweetie! What a shame that one of my girls is a bit too old, and the other one a bit too young for him! He sounds like the perfect boyfriend material! I bet he takes after his dad, or you’ve trained him well :)
Aww Celia that’s so sweet you made my eyes well up! He is lucky to have such a wonderful mum and you’re lucky to have such a loving son (although of course he would turn out to be a lovely young man with a mum like you!).
Thank you all! I’m really grateful that you’re willing to read my ramblings about my family. Sometimes the words just come out, like yesterday when Big Boy walked in and presented me with my pork salad roll on a white plate.
It’s very kind of you to compliment Pete and I, but truly, those boys of ours taught us how to parent. And we have been blessed with young men of gentle temperament, a testament to their father. I can get a little…umm…volatile at times.. ;-)
No, no, no, the thanks go to you!!! You opened a lot of hearts with today’s post and provided all of us with generous smiles. Thank you soooo much.
So sweet Celia. That left me with a big smile. That is indeed love.
When I was pregnant with Monkey Boy those Vietnamese rolls were hot property, crusty crumbs spraying everywhere, and more chilli than should rightfully been so…I don’t think I’ve had one since then.
Beautiful!
Celia I know just what you mean about loving your children so much that your heart aches. What a wonderful son you have, God bless him xox
It’s the small things that count isn’t it. I am SO grateful if my girls offer to make me a cup of tea :)
Lordy – I got misty eyed too! They grow up so fast…
What a beautiful post! I’ve just done a post about my 18 year old boy. They are very special aren’t they!
What a lovely post…
And what a thoughtful big boy you have raised.
Sounds like one in a million!
Beautiful! very considerate of Big Boy. (but I can’t stand those pork rolls, LOL!)
What a sweetie. It’s so easy to take parents for granted, but he clearly loves and appreciates you. I wonder when I last showed my mum I loved her, just by doing something a little bit special? Too long I suspect.
Beautiful, Celia. I loved reading this, thankyou. xx
Aww I got all mushy and teary eyed reading this Celia! You’ve got two great boys there :)
Thank you, dear friends. It’s amazing how much any small kindness by our kids can bring us joy, thank you all for understanding! :)
Soooooo sweet. YEs he obviously does adore his mum!
I LOVE vietnamese rolls. So crunchy but soft and spicy and…interesting!
Ooooh that’s so sweet of him! You deserve it!!! :)
I got misty eyed too………. oh what a beautiful pork roll. I have at least one banh mi a week from the N Lee Bakery in Little Collins St – very near where you stayed when you were down here.
Celia – wow. How thankful I am, for you and for inspiring and encouraging. I know the aches and fears of a mum and sometimes it drives me mad…..
Enjoy your pork sarnies. LOL and Happy American Thanksgiving