True Sincerity
"Mom?" Little guy stumbled out from the bedroom in a sleepy stomp, stomp, stomp. He rounded the corner to the kitchen and stopped in his tracks. It was either shock or annoyance when his eyes welled with tears and he whimpered, "Mom, where are you?"
I stood from the table hidden by our tall counter and rushed to his aide, "Happy Birthday big guy, did you have a nice nap?"
The husband and I had gone decoration-busters. We'd only been cleaning the house for the birthday party since we had awoken that morning--so continuing into decoration and birthday present wrapping mode during nap time was easy. Balloons and the cake were picked up. Tablecloth and banner put in place. Presents wrapped and stacked and food in the center of the table. Balloons hovered in all the corners. Cake perfectly displayed in the center of the table. And mom and dad mostly dressed for the occassion. I was just putting together the two goodie bags (one for the little guy and one for his cousin, the only other child attending), when little one found his way to the party.
"What's wrong?" I tilted my head to try to see this little face, that wasn't the expected happy and cheerful of a room entirely dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine his favorite.
He wrapped his little arms around my neck, squeezed so that I could feel his intensity, and then he looked me square in the face (a whole inch from my nose) and said, "Thank you Mom for all the party." His eyes wandered around the room. Stopping at the balloons. Then at the cake. And then at the presents. "Thank you for the presents and the pretty party. I love you." And those arms squeezed my neck again, and he leaned in to give me a kiss, centered on my left cheek.
"I love you too little guy. Happy Birthday."
I stood from the table hidden by our tall counter and rushed to his aide, "Happy Birthday big guy, did you have a nice nap?"
The husband and I had gone decoration-busters. We'd only been cleaning the house for the birthday party since we had awoken that morning--so continuing into decoration and birthday present wrapping mode during nap time was easy. Balloons and the cake were picked up. Tablecloth and banner put in place. Presents wrapped and stacked and food in the center of the table. Balloons hovered in all the corners. Cake perfectly displayed in the center of the table. And mom and dad mostly dressed for the occassion. I was just putting together the two goodie bags (one for the little guy and one for his cousin, the only other child attending), when little one found his way to the party.
"What's wrong?" I tilted my head to try to see this little face, that wasn't the expected happy and cheerful of a room entirely dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine his favorite.
He wrapped his little arms around my neck, squeezed so that I could feel his intensity, and then he looked me square in the face (a whole inch from my nose) and said, "Thank you Mom for all the party." His eyes wandered around the room. Stopping at the balloons. Then at the cake. And then at the presents. "Thank you for the presents and the pretty party. I love you." And those arms squeezed my neck again, and he leaned in to give me a kiss, centered on my left cheek.
"I love you too little guy. Happy Birthday."
