My inspiration for this record of my days:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” -Anna Quindlen

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Later, Mom. Later.

I love the quirky little things Eli says these days.

"Later" is the answer to everything.

Eli: Can I have a soda Mom? Can I?
Me: Not right now sweetheart.
Eli: Later Mom? Later?
Me: Sure. Maybe later.
Eli: (happily) Ok Mom. Later.

Eli: I go swim now Mom? Can I?
Me: I'm sorry, we can't swim today.
Eli: Later Mom? Later?
Me: Well... not today.  But maybe tomorrow we can swim!
Eli: Later? Ok Mom.  Later.

When it comes to suckers, though, later isn't specific enough.

Eli: Can I have sucker Mom? Can I?
Me: Sorry buddy, not right now.
Eli: I have sucker on my birday Mom? (birthday)
Me: That's a good idea! You can ask for a sucker for your birthday!
Eli: Birday coming up! Later. (nodding) Later.

You really have to see it in person to appreciate the cuteness of that "Later."