It was mid-semester break at the local university where I worked so I took Ming in with me. He was nearly four. I’d only done this once before and it’d been a disaster because there was nothing for him to do except run up and down the hallway, vrooming, which wasn’t really appropriate at exam time.
This time I had a drawer full of paper, textas, finger puppets, matchbox cars and chocolate frogs ready, and for awhile this worked really well. I closed my office door and started preparing for the following semester while Ming played and drew pictures happily on the floor.
Inevitably, Ming got bored, so finally I opened my office door and told him he could go up and down the hallway quietly. He raced out.
After a few minutes I realised it was just a bit too quiet and, worried he’d wandered outside, I darted into the hallway just in time to see him dragging a chair from one of empty lecture rooms into the hallway and across to another lecture room. This was a big job for a little guy and I retreated to my doorway and watched, unnoticed, while, grunting with exertion, he finally propped the chair up against the closed door.
I knew there was some sort of community seminar going on in that room and earlier I’d bumped into the woman conducting it and said a quick hello. She’d seen Ming and crouched down at his eye-level and ruffled his hair, saying, “You’re a handsome devil aren’t you!” But it wasn’t until I saw him clambering onto the chair to look through the small window into the room where she was giving some sort of presentation that I realised how much impact she’d had on him.
I tip-toed up behind him to watch this woman through Ming’s ‘little-boy’ eyes. She was certainly beautiful; she was young, slim, olive-skinned and her black hair fell to her waist. Ming was so transfixed that he had no idea I was there until she suddenly noticed us peering in. She was so startled that I whisked Ming off the chair and back into my office, embarrassed.
But, much to my surprise, he ran straight back and picked up the chair, which had fallen over, and clambered onto it again to have another look. I quietly left him to it.
A few minutes later, I heard voices in the hallway, indicating that the seminar had finished. Ming toddled back into my office, an ecstatic smile on his face.
“Come an’ look, Mummy,” he said, pulling me away from my desk and into the hallway. The woman was walking away but, for some reason, she turned back and saw us watching her. She waved, and Ming waved back. Then she was gone. He sighed.
“That’s a bootiful womin, isint it, Mummy,” he said, looking up at me, his eyes full of light. I was flabbergasted. Was he in love?
It took weeks to wear off!
…..
Now that Ming is 18 he has experienced a few more crushes and been crushed by them as we all are at that age. It is strange to think that I was, at his age, falling in love with Anthony. I wonder who Ming will end up forming a relationship with and I hope she will be kind to him like the woman in the story above. If she isn’t, I will bop her!
jmgoyder 
Love the pic. Nice birds.
Thanks – they are very soothing!
I like how the birds make the shape of a heart – very cool. Sweet story too:)
I didn’t even notice that – just shows how unobservant I am!
Just don’t Bop her too hard, Julie.
She might be the Love of his Life and have other interesting characteristics or personality traits besides Kindness.
In my youth I was always attracted to the ‘bad boys’ – thank goodness I didn’t marry any on them (but I still have a liking for a man in tight black leather jeans and a ponytail, even though I’m nearly 59).
LOL
Sounds like you were a wild one!
just read this and cracking up Victoria 🙂 xxoo
That’s what I like to hear… if shes not good to him you’ll bop her… that shows love for a son..
Have we not all gone through a similar experience… at age 7 we had a neighbour I was going to marry, she was 10 years older than me…and I was so in love… I don’t think she even knew my name…
Wow – I wonder who she is now!
no one is supposed to hurt our boys — but they have and they will — but eventually things will turn out (I hope)
I hope too!
That’s adorable!
Our eldest is 22. At that age, I had been married to his Dad for a year. Scary to think about it! No wonder my Mum was so against it at the time.
It’s kind of weird thinking back isn’t it!
Terrifying!
I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about with Ming. He’ll definitely choose right.
Let’s see what happens – ha!
I hated the gorilla that walked my little angle down the aisle!! It is so difficult especially when you think they have made the wrong choice!
that was the cutest story, and i think all of us moms want our children to have awesome mates in lives. i too, can remember the heart aches of having a crush on someone but they didn’t feel that way about me. i am so glad i am no longer a teen, but i would take the energy, and the free spirit of a teen again!
oh I am definitely glad NOT to be a teen!
(smiling) What a beautiful story! And I have no doubt you would bop the woman who messes with Ming!
Reblogged this on ochelepep and commented:
closeness
Thanks!
Hi, skype me on peter.otieno2, thanks
I don’t know how!
What a wonderful and charming story…. I LOVED IT!! Ming.. oh wow… too bad we can’t set him up with my little one ~ she has just become available too after dating the same boy since 14 (now she’s 19)… Would seriously be a long-distance relationship… but Casey’s gorgeous, genius, loves children, master baker…. hmmmm?? Let’s pow-wow on this Julie 🙂 I’ll send you a photo you can show him ! (kind of kidding ??) xxooo
What a wonderful story. I wonder if his future love will look anything like that woman 🙂
Who knows? Quite an exciting phase of life I guess!
How cute…………………….
That is such a cute story! My four year old LOVES to chase the older girls. He could care less about girls his age. I’m in trouble, ain’t I?
Haha – sounds like you have a little Romeo!
Your last line made me laugh out loud… You reacted like every protective mom and I was thinking the same thing too. I pray all our children find loving, caring and devoted partners… Amen! 😉
I really thing these Ming stories are becoming my favorites. I’m glad you have such a good memory of his childhood. I should have written down more of the things that Dimples said as a little one.
So cute, what a beautiful memory. 🙂
First, second, and third loves can be learning experiences. Tyler wanted a steady girlfriend so much in high school, but it never worked out. Now that he’s in college as a freshman, he says he’s going to hang out and not get serious. He has four years. Live and learn.
Jules I think this is the most charming story, If I did not love you & your Ming already I would be smitten with you both NOW.
How wonderful of you to step back and let him expereince his “first crush” with no one telling yeah or neh. Especially his mom
The pureness and wholesomeness of it all.
Then the way you concluded about his future crush. Priceless.
This was a really wonderful “Feel-Good” post on a day when a” Feel-Good” story is just what is needed.
Thank you my dear friend ~ BB
He was so sweet!
wonderful story!