Cafeteria For Breakfast

K, I have been taking you to school often since H started kindergarten.

And I just love our mornings together.

H and mom are out the door by 7:30, and suddenly it’s just you and I in a quiet house.

I usually take Huck out and finish getting dressed while you watch cartoons.

When I am ready, I help you out of your pajamas and into your school clothes. I will gather up all of our things and fill-up my coffee one last time.

As I put you in the car you always ask to watch something on my phone – and I always say yes.

We get to Learning Tree right at 8 and I take you straight to the cafeteria for breakfast.

Your class does not come in until 8:05 – 8:10.

So, again, it’s just you and I – and it’s quiet one last time before the day starts.

The cafeteria lady is fixing plates and I always go get you one.

Afterward, I get you a glass of milk for the cart in the corner of the room.

And then we sit together side-by-side until your class get there.

Sometimes we talk and sometimes we simply enjoy the silence.

I just enjoy being with you.

I adore you.

I love you.

-Dad

Wrangle You

K, last night reading books you were just the sweetest thing.

You and H were wild and crazy after baths and it was all we could do to lotion you two up and wrangle you into your pajamas.

Afterward, mom and I could barely even calm y’all down enough to read books.

During the thrashing, you bumped into mom’s stomach and I (mostly joking) asked you to apologize to your little sister.

Your voice immediately became gentle and sweet as you got down and talked to mom’s stomach:

I’m sorry baby sister. I love you.

My heart.

I wish I could bottle all this up.

I love you.

-Dad

Have Cash

H, back when you were at Learning Tree, this happened and I forgot to tell the story.

This one day there was a bake sale in the front office.

I think the Kindergartners do it every year. Or maybe I am inventing things.

Anyway. We were walking past their setup and you asked me to buy you something.

I quietly told you no. And that I didn’t have any money for it anyway. They only accepted cash.

In a heartbeat, you announced to the entire room, with a dozen parents and kids coming and going:

We can’t get anything because my dad does not have any money!

Everyone exploded with laughter.

Laughing too, I told the room:

I don’t have CASH! That’s different.

Ha!

I love you, goose.

You make me laugh everyday.

I love you.

-Dad