When a child gets a minor injury, such as a cut, scrape, or bump or bruise, this is called a “boo-boo.” (More generally, any kind of minor mistake can be called a “boo-boo.”) Of course, even though the injury is minor, the child thinks that the hurt is much worse than it really is. The child will often carry on, or behave like the hurt is unbearable. We then “cure” the hurt by kissing it. So, a typical dialogue might look like this:
Child: Ow, Mommy! I fell down and hurt myself!
Mother: Oh, did you bang your knee?
Child: Yes! It hurts so bad!
Mother: Come here. Let me kiss it and make it all better.
(The child comes to his mother, who then kisses the knee.)
Mother: How’s that? Feel better now?
Child: Yes. Thank you, Mommy.