This was one of the first things I wrote ten years ago. This memory is still vivid. I still remember how I felt when I wrote this. I had no idea then.
Yesterday at masjid Yusuf got sick in the middle of Ishaa. It was the second raqaat and I immediately broke my namaz to take care of him. Fortunately, he was feeling much better in a matter of moments. I ran around and cleaned him up and assured him that everything was ok. Luckily, the mess was almost entirely on our masallas. I cleaned it up and was pretty immune to the grossness that the person next to me in namaz probably saw and smelled. But phew, Yusuf was feeling good and eventually everything was rinsed and less smelly.
Fast forward to a few hours later on our way home and he got sick again in the car still about 10 minutes from home. Fortunately again, he seemed to feel much better within moments. The car though, is not a great place to be sick. We got home way after bedtime with a bunch stuff that we had to do all of a sudden. The kids now needed a bath and a bunch of laundry to do.
Zahra and I got the kids all cleaned up and put to bed and then had to deal with the car. The mess was everywhere and it was now raining outside. Great. I took the car apart and cleaned for what seemed like a pretty long time. Again, I was seemingly immune to the grossness. A neighbor walked passed and observed me cleaning vomit out with lots and lots of wet wipes. I can only imagine what he must have been thinking.
Last night was pure love. Taking care of Yusuf is so instinctual for us.
Yesterday was a day I that I will remember for a long time I imagine. When Yusuf is older it's going to be one of those stories I tell over and over. I expect people will indulge me and act as if it's a story they've never heard before just because I'm so fond of telling it. They'll listen just the way I have patiently listened to a few people I love tell the same stories over and over because I love watching them remember fondly.
I've got some idea now, but probably still just an inkling. I've learned something over and over the last ten years...my reward for love is more love.
Yesterday at masjid Yusuf got sick in the middle of Ishaa. It was the second raqaat and I immediately broke my namaz to take care of him. Fortunately, he was feeling much better in a matter of moments. I ran around and cleaned him up and assured him that everything was ok. Luckily, the mess was almost entirely on our masallas. I cleaned it up and was pretty immune to the grossness that the person next to me in namaz probably saw and smelled. But phew, Yusuf was feeling good and eventually everything was rinsed and less smelly.
Fast forward to a few hours later on our way home and he got sick again in the car still about 10 minutes from home. Fortunately again, he seemed to feel much better within moments. The car though, is not a great place to be sick. We got home way after bedtime with a bunch stuff that we had to do all of a sudden. The kids now needed a bath and a bunch of laundry to do.
Zahra and I got the kids all cleaned up and put to bed and then had to deal with the car. The mess was everywhere and it was now raining outside. Great. I took the car apart and cleaned for what seemed like a pretty long time. Again, I was seemingly immune to the grossness. A neighbor walked passed and observed me cleaning vomit out with lots and lots of wet wipes. I can only imagine what he must have been thinking.
Last night was pure love. Taking care of Yusuf is so instinctual for us.
Yesterday was a day I that I will remember for a long time I imagine. When Yusuf is older it's going to be one of those stories I tell over and over. I expect people will indulge me and act as if it's a story they've never heard before just because I'm so fond of telling it. They'll listen just the way I have patiently listened to a few people I love tell the same stories over and over because I love watching them remember fondly.
I've got some idea now, but probably still just an inkling. I've learned something over and over the last ten years...my reward for love is more love.
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