Boogerfest 2010

There were many conversations that I didn't anticipate having when I became a mother. You don't realize until you are having them that of coarse you would be having them. Who else will teach your son to cover his mouth when he coughs? Or how to wipe after going potty? Or how to pick his nose in a socially acceptable manner?

Aid loves to pick his nose. Loves it. All day long. I would casually say, "Aid, yuck." But honestly thought it was mostly just a little kid thing and he would grow out of it. Until he started eating the boogers. And then I had to step in. You don't always recover from mistakes like that. If Aid picks his nose (and then eats it) in front of the wrong kid....well, we all know how mean kids can be.

I was relieved after discussing this issue with fellow moms, that Aid was not the only nose picker or booger eater in the group. But with preschool on the horizon, some social etiquette lessons are required. So while we have been in full operation potty training mode, we have also been in full operation 'Don't eat your boogers' mode!!

I haven't really been getting anywhere. We talked about germs. How gross it is. How he could get teased. All of it. In one nostril, and out the other.

But tonight, while reading a book, Aid asked for a tissue. He tried to blow his nose. Then he looked up at me with his big brown eyes that have always melted me, and asked me to teach him how to get the boogers out. So I showed him how to put the tissue on his finger, dig around, and try to get them out. And finally he got the booger that had been driving him bananas! And we did a celebratory booger cheer! I mean, we all know how gratifying it can be when you do get the booger. But the thing that really got me, was watching how proud of himself he was. For simply learning how to pick his nose the right way. I really hope we can finally ditch the eating of the boogers.

It's the little things.