Have you ever experienced “Chunks In The Night”? No, this isn’t a Broadway musical. This is when you hear your 3 year old hurling in his bed at 4 a.m. Last night the Smith household experienced this phenomenon in full effect.

We had had a full weekend with the holiday and things. Lots of friend time, play time, and food. We were all sleeping soundly for several hours when we heard that awful noise that I haven’t heard since my dorm-mates got back from their parties in college. Chunks In The Night. Of course, at least my inebriated loser friends made it to the toilet to let go of a stomach full of poor judgment. My son? Nah, the mattress will do just fine Dad. When we walked into the room it was obvious what we were up against. Poor guy was sitting up clutching a monkey in one hand and a “doggy” in the other. All 3 of them soaked in partially digested Memorial Day fare.

If you are a parent you know the moment I had last night. You know, where you’re crouched down in the laundry room floor while your spouse bathes the little rascal. (meanwhile he/she feels much better and wants to play in the bathtub………..at 4:15 a.m.) But there you are picking the chunks of hot dog out of the sheets/stuffed animal fur thinking about just throwing it all away in a giant garbage bag. I got it all out and washed it on the hottest cycle. Then I went upstairs to change his sheets and make sure there were no chunks anywhere else. About the time I had it all clear his mom brought him upstairs. We prayed with him and laughed a little. All was well again and we were heading back to sleep as a family.

It had only taken 45 minutes. Not bad. 15 minutes later he hurled again. This time less chunks, but still enough to repeat the whole process again. You know, a little bit of puke is like being a little bit pregnant. No such thing as using “wipes” when you’re talking about kids spewing. 

All the while I kept thinking about my parents doing the same thing for me. You do it because you love them. Who knows, someday I’ll probably look back and wish I had one more middle of the night with them at this age picking out chunks and gathering memories. Love each other. . . . . . . . . . . and remember.Hunter