New Traditions

What perverse part of me finds fault with something that brings me so much pleasure?

I cannot imagine a mother not wanting to be involved in every part of her child’s life, yet this is apparently not a thought all mother’s share.

I had not really planned on doing much more than hiding a book and few eggs full of candy for Lennon this year, but when I asked my son when they planned to color eggs, I was surprised to hear they didn’t.

That was how my day began. His mother was off on one of her weekly foraging trips that occupy almost every minute she is not at work, so the rest of us did a little shopping on our own.

I began inventing a series of bedtime stories several months ago about Sir Bobby the Brave, Princess Barbie the Beautiful and Sir Lennon the Good Knight. Their adventures have become a tradition on the nights I baby sit. Lennon brushes his teeth, we read three books, then he climbs into bed and I fill him in on the newest adventures of this family who live in a castle high on a mountain top, far, far away.

I decided to purchase some action figures for my three heroes, but I didn’t know how to get to the toy store that sold them. So, Lennon and his father took me, then they went looking at balls and bats while I surreptitiously paid for and hid my toys in the car. Afterwards I went back in and we bought a T ball bat and ball and a small soccer ball for my house so we can play when their car is not home.

At home, the three of us dyed Easter eggs, sang songs, and generally did all the silly things you do when you are four years old and want to have a good time. Then his mother came home and his parents left for their weekly game night.

Lennon and I had dinner and a movie, Kung Fu Panda tonight, and I put him to bed with his story, sang him to sleep and came out here to the living room. It was a sweet day. I haven’t done these things since my own children were small and I would never have been able to do it if his mother had wanted to do it herself.

Sometimes it is good to just let go of the old thoughts about what should be and enjoy what is.