Volunteering in Gabe’s classroom the other day, I had the realization– not quite an epiphany– that my angel boy looked like an orphan. His favorite surfer dog t-shirt revealed two inches of his skinny belly, his hair hung past his eyes and his beloved orange sweatshirt was dominated by rips and red paint stains.
Within days, the t-shirt was given to a younger friend, our friend Ashli trimmed his golden tresses and I went in for the kill– the orange hoodie.
At Christmas, Gabriel received a perfectly fantastic sweatshirt– brick red and lined with delicious furry fleece– but he hates it. He claims it makes him look fat. And nothing, no jacket can ever take the place of ‘Orangey’– a hand me down from Xander that he’s worn since first grade.
So, meanie that I am, I buried it in the donation bag and feigned ignorance when Gabe ran around the house the next morning plaintively calling, “Orangey, Orangey? Where are you?”
Taking pity, Erik retrieved Orangey from the black bag and came back from our closet with not one, but two sweatshirts– one of them was mine– my beloved white sweatshirt that warms me on every cold morning, has accompanied me to the beach and Lake Powell, was run over by a wagon on pioneer trek and still bears the red dirt stains.
“If Orangey goes than I think you should get rid of your ripped up sweatshirt too.”
I changed my mind. Orangey looks just fine.
Tracy
Oh my – look at that sad, sweet sweatshirt. I don’t think I could say no to that sweet boy. Love.
Brooke
i think the holes give orangey street cred. i love it more because of them.
Cath
Love this Michelle – you two sporting your beloved hoodies. Some comfort items are just too hard to give away. Beautiful pic of you two. xo
annie
I have 4 adorable boys that regularly look like orphans. I can’t decide if I am embarrased by this or if I accept it because it causes less conflict.
Lisa
Gorgeous photo of the two of you together…I especially loved seeing your beautiful face on the other side of the camera.
Christie
Ha! Husbands know how to work it, don’t they? We have a few things around here that I’d like to put in the trash. My son wears this worn, ugly shark caging tee shirt about four times a week. I wash it, he wears it. It’s hideous. What can you do?
Tifani
Orangie is just fine. Let him love it. You are a great mom.