Don Hill
By Don Hill
Since it ‘tis the season about a little baby being born, I thought it would be the time to discuss the navel.
It might be an innie or outie or something in between. You might put a ring in it or brush the lint out of it. Whatever, it just shows that you were born and not hatched. Since most look like a little knot, many think it is the way the doctor tied off the umbilical cord. Apparently, that’s not so. In that case, if the doctor was an ex-Navy man, we might have more varieties of navels.
On a serious note (I do get serious sometimes), I was wondering about a small child who might ask about it. I wrote the following dialog for my great-niece, Kim, and her little boy, Cam. It could be about any mother and her child no matter what age.
Mommy, I have a question.
Is it about Santa Claus?
No, it’s about my belly button.
Oh?
Mommy, why do I have a belly button?
Well, Cam once you and I were connected together by a cord.
Really!
Yes, but when you were born, the doctor cut the cord.
Why, Mommy?
So you could be a person all by yourself.
But what about my belly button?
The doctor left a little piece of the cord attached to you, and that made your belly button. So it’s like a little part of me that is always with you.
So it’s kinda like we are still connected?
You are so smart Cam.
You have a belly button, too.
Yes, because my mom and I are still connected.
But you said …
Yes, I know I said that my mom is in heaven, but she is still with me.
That’s my grandma.
Yes, Cam.
Does that have to do with love?
It’s all about love. I will always love you, and you will always love me.
Cam, what are you doing?
I’m trying to kiss my belly button.
That’s pretty hard to do. Why don’t you just kiss me instead.
I love you Mommy!
Don Hill is a resident of Seymour and a longtime volunteer for Southern Indiana Center for the Arts. Send comments to [email protected].