Anyone have spare car?

Brent wrecked his car on Friday. Boo. Of course it just had to be his fault and the other car just had to be a newer Jaguar. Double BOO! Everyone was OK and that is all that matters, but I sure wish we had reconsidered the liability only insurance we went with...TRIPLE BOO! Funny side story to this fiasco: I was swimming with the kids when I got the call from Brent. I knew he was OK and I just needed to get down to the accident scene fast (with insurance info so he wouldn't get two tickets...). I made the mistake of telling Gavin that Brent had been in an accident and I needed him to get out of the pool fast without any complaints. He did and so did the girls and I dropped them all off at Emily's and told them I would be right back. I DID make sure to tell them Brent wasn't hurt and everything was OK--I made sure of that. But we all know sweet Gavin is a DADDY'S BOY and has his Dad's anxiety--poor little dude.

About 1/2 hour later we are sitting at the accident scene and we get a call from Emily. Gavin just had to talk to his Dad. Again, we reassured him everything would be OK. After we got things squared away and the car had been towed we drove up and picked up the kids. About this time the adrenaline rush Brent had experienced was starting to wear off...que the ominous sound bite, "Dun, dun, dun."

Once Brent begin to think clearly, he realized his truck was now at a storage place and he was going to be paying out the nose until he got it back. He called the place to find out how to get it out and found out it was going to be $300 to finalize the towing bill and get his truck! You can imagine the EXPLOSION of emotions that this caused.

Gavin had been audience to all this emotional trauma. He was already tired from a cousin sleepover and swimming all morning and this event was a little too much for him. Brent took his mom's car to go "work things out" with the towing guy and I took the kids home in the suburban. I was watching Gavin walk in the house when I noticed him slumping and looking really dejected. I said, "Gavin, are you OK?" He turned around (sunburned and still in his swimsuit with no shirt--skin and bones) and just started bawling, "NO! I'm not all right! How is Dad going to get to work?" Poor little man was having a breakdown. I tried to give him a hug and he pulled away and said, "I think I just need to be alone. I'm just having a bad day." I picked him up and carried him into his bedroom. He was totally bawling (but not fighting being carried) and sputtering, "S-s-t-o-p. I'm n-n-not a b-b-aby!" I love that kid. I let him lay in the cool of his room until he could settle down enough to talk.

Brent came home shortly after. He had calmed down and fixed things with the tow truck driver (he ended up apologizing--hee hee) and explained that the guy was on his way up to our house to drop the truck off here. Gavin came out to meet him and was obviously still a wreck,

Gavin: "I hate that guy! D-dad, you know what I am going to do? I am g-going to kick that guy in the shins and tell him he is just an ASS!"

Gavin and I spent the rest of the afternoon reading a book together.

Brent and I discussed a few things:
1. Kids hear and pick up on EVERYTHING you say and do
2. How can we help Gavin work through his anxiety issues
3. What word still has the meaning and brings the satisfaction of our favorite "go to" swear word...but won't get Gavin sent to the principles office...