Mental Notes: Five minus Two Teeth

Friday, November 11, 2011

Five minus Two Teeth

Dear Abe,

So, today in the car, we had this exchange:

{"Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" is playing on the radio}
ME: Oohhh! This is a Michael Jackson song!

ABE: He's dead.

Needless to say, your comment sort of stunned me. The fact that you knew who Michael Jackson was, and the fact that he was dead. It's not like we discussed his death with you in detail, or refer to him as "That Dead Guy" when his songs come up on the iPod. I am surely kidding myself to think that I can shield you from all of the horrible things in the world -- death, poverty, the Kardashians -- but it is inevitable. You are five now. And quite the worldly one.

The pace at which you are growing up freaks me out. I constantly am staring at your tall, long body and wonder what happened to my chubby, small baby. You not only get dressed all by yourself, but you pick out what you will wear. You have opinions on your clothes, your new winter coat, and the way I wear my hair (you prefer it down, for the record.)


Only minus one tooth at this time.

Your memory and attention to detail astounds me. You recall the t-shirts that Uncle Griff wore on vacation. His T-SHIRTS. You remember faces and names, and exactly what each person got you for every holiday. You remember details of Batman's costume (60s Batman) from seeing the show once, to draw a picture of him at school.

Your teeth are falling out like crazy. Well, I guess only two are gone, but that is CRAZY to me. I remember very clearly when those two teeth poked through your little gums and now they are gone. You pulled both of them out yourself, only when they were ready, because you do not do anything unless you are ready.


The smile on your face is priceless.

You are growing up into a real boy, but you aren't all grown up yet. When we walk in the parking lot at stores, you still let me hold your hand. When it's time for you to go to bed, you still want me to lay with you and rub your back.

We were at Monkey Joe's last weekend for one of your friend's birthday party. (Don't even get me started about Monkey Joe's. That place is an insane, crazy place, where parent's go to have panic attacks. I can only handle millions of children running around, screaming, and bouncing for so long.) You were so excited to see your friends from school. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to drop you off or stay and sit to the side. (When I saw what that place was like, I decided I was DEFINITELY not leaving you). But, you didn't want me to go too far. You would run off with your friends, and every so often stop what you were doing and search for me. Yelling in there is no use, so as I was would walk toward you, I would see your eyes frantically searching for me, until you found me. Your body would relax, you would smile, and then you would continue on your way.

It reminded me that even though you are five and have friends of your own, and have opinions about my hair in a ponytail (is it really that bad?!), you still need me. At least for now. And, just so you know, I will eat up every last moment.