Can I sound more cheesy than to say that one of my favorite things to do in the world is watch the expressions change on my child's face? Watching how animated he can get and all of the extremely intense emotions that flow right through to the look on his face... I love watching my kid.
Scary creepy stalker mom, I know. But really, what I marvel at in times where I stop to watch him like that is the insanity that I helped create another human being. He's 4 and it still is as strange of a concept to me now as it was the day he was born. I made a tiny human. This bundled mixture of my husband and myself has turned into an entirely unique and amazing new person.
Right now we are at Chick-fil-A and I am enjoying a few moments of peace while watching him in the play place through the huge glass window. He is having a blast, and I'm glad we finally have gotten to the point where I can sit out in the restaurant like all of the other parents of older kids and relax for a few moments instead of needing to be in there to help him maintain his temper. Sure he still sometimes gets upset if it is too loud in there or if some other kid is freaking out about having to leave, and when that happens I don't hesitate to step in and help him calm down, but today is a far cry from even 6 months ago bringing him to play with other kids. He still doesn't quite understand social convention, even on a preschool level, but with the other children he is interacting with moving so fluidly in and out of their prescribed 15 minutes and then off to home, there is no dealing with any one kid for more than a few minutes. Plus, he's got Mario. His "best bud" is slung over his back and journeying through all of the tunnels and slides with him.
I've been excited that he has made such an attachment to his Mario plush backpack. He hasn't actually ever had a toy that he has clung to before this, and it is good to see him have some sort of safety/calming item aside from the blankets that he can't realistically take with him everywhere. Mario is very versatile. He can stick around, fine by me. Every kid should have a favorite toy. And even better, Johnny is extremely aware of Mario's safety, eating habits, potty breaks, nap times, need for sunscreen and sturdy shoes. When I ask if Mario needs something, (in reference to a real, tangible item) I am always informed that "It's just a-tend mommy, it's just a-tend." His seat belt in the car isn't pretend though, and I love that Johnny is so insistent about it, even if it takes me an extra minute or so when loading up the car.
I wonder if I can throw Mario in the wash without ruining him?
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