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I am a sucker for large crusty boogers.

Very few boundaries exist between young children and their parents, so I hope it's understandable that I've wanting to pick the perfectly crispy mass that occupied my three-year-old's right nostril all day. I casually asked him if I could a couple times throughout the day. He shut me down on each occasion. I don't know what's up with him, but he's actually not into nose-picking at all. He just wanted it to stay there.

Tonight we were climbing into bed to read his bedtime stories, and that nose dweller caught my eye again. I knew this was my last chance to get it, and I just really couldn't let him go to bed like that. It could have interfered with optimal breathing. But mostly I just wanted a certain type of weird satisfaction. So I explained, "Jav, you have this really big booger in your nose. Let's get it." He giggled. I took that as somewhat of an invitation. I put my finger in quickly and said, "There it is!" as I tried to scoop it. He pulled away, but he was still laughing. I tried to get him to feel it, but he wanted nothing to do with it.

"Come on. Let me get it. I need a bedtime snack."

Oh my goodness. He laughed so hard when I said that. I love this age of making jokes that he gets and appreciates. It really was a preposterous notion because as badly as I wanted to see that baked boog exit his nose, I have NEVER been an eater. Even as a kid, I may have tasted one once or twice, but putting them in my mouth was not for me.

Since laughter was rolling, and he didn't feel too assaulted by my finger in his nostril, I tried again, this time with a little more determination to get it. And get it, I did. It was like a pea-sized pebble, and it was every bit as gratifying and I hoped it would be.

I was so excited that I said, "Let's show, Daddy!" I jumped up from the bed and walked to the banister of the stairs. I called down, "Daddy, look!" I reached out my pincer grasp, and he cupped his hands in preparation to receive something. I dropped the booger down, and it landed perfectly in his hand-cradle.

He gave it a wee bit of acknowledgement then flicked it across the floor.

I know. We are disgusting. Is every family like this or are we weird?

Come over tomorrow for a game of Find the Booger in the dining room. Winner gets a handful of candy corn.

- Panda Elder

Panda Elder is an elementary teacher, turned stay-at-home mom to two boys. She describes herself as a hot mess who relies on coffee and wine. She stays up too late writing about the good, the bad and the ugly of motherhood on her blog.