Oatmeal, with a capital G

This morning at breakfast, Lil E begged Bruce and I to tell him a story. And really, how can you resist a kid with a chin covered in oatmeal, waving a plastic kiddie spoon around in front of you? Bruce began.

"Once upon a time, there was a little boy..."

On the heels of his last words, Lil E waved his spoon again, "Mommy, tell me a diff'rent story!"

I took my turn and when I saw the next request about to come, I got there before he could.

"Lil E, you tell us a story." And so he took a turn.

"Once upon a time, there was a daddy who looooooved to watch Lil E play golf. He HIT! da ball out of the sand and onto the green and he use his driver and putter to hit in da hoooooole."

The he stopped with a satisfied pause. I asked him for more, maybe share a mommy story.

"Once upon a time," he leapt in with a decided nod, "there was a mommy who loooooved to work. She work at da cafe and Lil E cryyyyyy because he wants his mommy."

In the silence, he nodded and took a big bite of his breakfast. Of course, I teared up. Of course, Bruce made a sympathetic face and then quickly changed the subject. And of course, that damn guilt -- the one I so ardently push away with all of my intellectualizing and passion for my work and for those hours spent typing away at the only free wi-fi spot in our neighborhood -- crept up behind one swift, simple toddler story early this morning.

Dagger, meet heart. Heart, meet dagger.

Comments

[2jmama]

ohhh the inocent stories that break our hearts. Good thing you wrote this down, now print it and save it for him when he is 12 and wants nothing to do with you. Remind him that at one time in his life he missed you!! :) There is too much mommy guilt, don't give in to the dark side!!