Wednesday, April 30, 2008

happy morning

At around 6:00 this morning, I heard the familiar sound of the key in the door, the creak of wood on wood as it opened. My heart smiled bigger than it has for days because I knew Steve was home from his three-day business trip. I managed OK while he was gone, though. I missed him a lot, but family and friends made sure someone was with me around the clock — even helping with Ben when he needed to be fed in the middle of the night. It was good for Daniel to spend all that time bonding with his aunts, too.

I know Daniel was happy to see his daddy, too. We'd had a couple of moments in the middle of the night where he woke up and sobbed for him for long minutes before falling back to sleep.

Last night, as he was falling asleep next to me, out of the blue he said, "Mama?"

"Yes, honey," I said.

"I'm sorry," he said in his sweet, clear little sing-song voice. His r's still sound like w's.

My heart just about broke. What does one say? "You don't have to be sorry," I said. "Mommy loves you so much. Daddy loves you, too."

"Mommy sad," he said. "Daddy sad."

He is so sensitive. Just like his mother. (And his father, for that matter.) I hope for his sake that he doesn't take on my tendency to carry the weight of other people's sorrow. But moments like that make me think he may.

He's also very silly. And skinny. See?

15 comments:

Christina said...

What a tender heart! To express that kind of sensitivity and compassion at his age is remarkable.

I always love shots of Daniel at the iMac. A future writer, perhaps!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, what a sweet and perceptive little boy! It amazes me that Daniel can understand so much at his age. I couldn't help but cry.

Anonymous said...

Children pick up more than we think. He's tuned in to the hard emotions going around in the home right now. What a sweet boy. He has an athlete's physique. Maybe he'll run marathons like his dad.

Christina said...

I was thinking that, too, Ellen. He's lean and muscular -- look at that buff shoulder! :)

Megan Thomas said...

I had told friends of mine who were "on the fence" about having kids that I knew a little boy whom they should meet and they would be inspired to start their own family. I was speaking of Daniel. He is a wonderful child.

I do not think that there is any greater legacy than seeing yourself in your child.

This post brought tears to my eyes, too.

Megan

Jill said...

Precious...

Unknown said...

What a beautiful gift he's gotten from his mom and dad-- that perception, that caring. This post truly made me cry.

Anonymous said...

What a cutie patooti!

Anonymous said...

I am always so overwhelmed at the love and friendship between you and Steve. I could not have handpicked a better partner for you on your life journey. (Not that anyone would leave ME in charge of man-picking). What an awesome gift for your children.

Leigh

Unknown said...

your son has a beautiful soul. So intuitive and caring.


and he's damn cute to boot!!!

you are one hell of a family.

kristine said...

awww...swelling heart, i bet!

Aunt Becky said...

What a sweet dude you have raised!

Anonymous said...

Oh Em, I'm so glad you had a happy morning, following your gloomy, Steve-less first day of radiation. But at least you had people with you round-the-clock, including Laura, who went with you to the radiation.

- Susanne

Anonymous said...

Incredibly heartwarming. I'm sending all of my positive energy and thoughts to you and your family.

Kir said...

what a wonderful , sensitive little boy. *tears*

so glad Steve is home too.