My sweet boys went into mom mode

On the way home last night, I began to feel very bad.  

I got home, got the kids in the house, fed them, cleaned them up, and then threw down toys and curled up in the fetal position on the couch.

Jimmy came in and saw me and went into caretaker mode.

Jimmy: "Do you want some soup?  I'm going to make you some soup."
Me: "No thank you.  I don't think I can keep it down."
Silas: "Mom, if you will just eat a little bit of soup, you will feel better."

How could I refuse once my four year old spit my own words back at me?

So, Jimmy set about making me soup.  

After a bit I heard, 
Silas: "Jimmy, can I go upstairs and get a blanket?"
Jimmy: "I don't care, buddy."

Clomping up the stairs.  Clomping back down.  

And then a sweet boy materialized with his Cars blanket (the only acceptable blanket when he feels bad) and a pillow and began to cover me up and check me for fever and kiss my cheeks and bring me "medicine" in little cups.

It warmed my heart to see that 1. there is a man in my life who sets the example that taking care of people and being kind to them is a manly thing to do and 2. that my son is turning into a person who is loving and kind and caring.

That is what I want for my children.  I want so badly for them to grow into people who love other people and treat them with kindness, and I am so grateful that it looks like they are on the right track.  

I worry so much about them picking up and taking on all of my bad traits and shortcomings, so it was a relief to see evidence that they are internalizing some of my positive attributes as well.

It melted my heart, and I just wanted to share it.