I work the graveyard shift. When my son's in school I typically sleep during the day, but when he's home, as he was yesterday, I typically go to bed in the early evening. Every night, before I go to bed, I give him a big hug and let him know I'll see him tomorrow.
Last night he had his friend DJ over. DJ's one of Jake's best friends. Sadly, his dad is in prison. He was sitting with Jake playing video games when I walked in and said, "Okay, give me a hug!" to Jake. I noticed as Jake got up that DJ turned and looked up at me with a smile and opened his arms, then realized I wasn't talking to him and turned back to his video game.
So after I hugged Jake, I said, "Hey DJ, you want a hug too?" He practically bolted up. I gave him a big one and said, "You're a good kid, Deej." He said thanks and went back to his video game.
I figure no kid ever gets too many hugs. As long as you ask first. And a kid like that probably never gets anywhere near enough.
I think I'll offer him one every time he comes over from now on.
That's a touching story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I, too, work the graveyard shift and find it to be very conducive to parenting - I'm always home in case of an emergency, I'm there in the morning to wake the little ones up and I'm always there for dinner and tucking in bed at night.
The first morning I worked this shift, after waking up my boy, he saw me after I already changed into my sleeping clothes and said, "Are you going back to bed now, Dad?" He didn't even realize that I had just come home from work. As far as my son is concerned, I don't have a job ... that's not a bad thing.
Yes!
Absolutely! Hug the kid (um, your kid’s friend, that is). Kids (hell, everyone) need a lot of physical affection. It can take years for someone who is not getting their recommended daily dose to finally catch up. If you ever notice how kids in 12 step programs behave, there is a reason so many of them hug and cuddle all the time...
You are a good man, Dean Esmay.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :)
Nope...Im a HUGE believer in hugs...and they should never be confined to "parents only privileges"...
What a great moment!!!