A little grace

Today was the day I get with just my youngest. He calls it our date day. Or, at least that’s what he called it today.

We grabbed donuts in the morning after grocery shopping and later he had a private swim lesson because the other kiddos were out sick.

I still don’t mind lifting and carrying my youngest, even though he’s a solid 4 year old. The other two boys were carried at this age too, I’m sure, just not as often. When you have a baby in your hip, throwing a 4 year old into the mix means they have to walk.

So I hefted my 4 year old throw slushy puddles and the adventure of the day was REI. He met an employee who showed him millions and millions of brochures while I searched for a rain coat for the oldest. she delighted in him and I delighted in their conversation.

“These are amazing!” My 4 year old said.

“These are all places you can go with your Mom someday,” she said, “and look, this one opens into a map.”

“You gotta be kidding me,” my 4 year old said, “it’s ginormous.”

He and I wandered the store after I pulled a coat from the Clearance rack. We discovered tent chairs in the center of the store and made ourselves at home.

I wasn’t in a rush, and neither was he.

He pulled out one of his brochures and handed it to me.

“Here Mom,” he said, “you can read this one and I’ll read this one.”

He expanded his brochure into a map and leaned back into his chair. I loved this moment with him. It is one of the many reasons I chose to stay home. Because sometimes it’s nice to stay a little while in a moment with your children. Eventually we would need to eat lunch. Eventually we would need to pick up the older boys. Eventually. But sometimes we get moments we can rest in.

Like in a tent chair, with maps spread wide, at REI.