What Does a Real Mom Smell Like?

Ian has been drug free for almost 3 days. It has been difficult for him. Sensory issues have precluded him from enjoying some activities he usually would enjoy. He has been like a lawn mower stuck in high gear, buzzing randomly around. Lots of yelling, hooting, and laughing at things in his head. He understands that he feels strange now because he is off his medicine, and he is dealing with it the best he can.

For Steve and I, it has been a trip down memory lane. This is the boy we remember from 2 years ago. The out-of-control wild child who was unfocused and miserable. The one who thought we didn't love him because we didn't understand him.

Fortunately, it is different this time because we know, and so does Ian, that in a few days this behavior shall pass.

Last evening, as I was putting dinner on the table, Ian ran up to me and hugged my waist tightly. He inhaled deeply and said, "Wow! You smell like a real mom!" Then he sat at the table.

I couldn't pass the opportunity to ask the question, "Ian, what exactly does a real mom smell like?" Man, this is gonna be good, I thought to myself.

He thought for a moment, and this is the list he came up with:

lots of flowers
bacon
strawberries
pizza with flour smothered on it
sweet smelling feet
fruit

O.K. This is a list I can live with. Strange though it may seem, everything on the list is something very positive to him. Perhaps when he is 10, I'll ask him the question again and see how his answer changes. Hopefully, it will still make me smile.

At bedtime, I snuggled close to him, and he buried his nose in my shoulder, giggling and sniffing my arm. I could feel his warm breath as it slowed and his body relaxed. For the first time in weeks, Ian was asleep at 8:40 p.m.