As a way of keeping my finger on the pulse of their ever-changing lives, I do regular Cuddle Nights with each boy. They get to stay up a little later than the other, watch a special show with me, and enjoy a bedtime treat. My son Lucas and I watch Somebody Feed Phil and snack on cinnamon bears. David and I watch old Bob’s Burgers episodes and have M&Ms. The shows and snacks are secondary to the time we spend. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes, they sigh and snuggle in close, even holding my hand. Other times, we sit far apart on the couch, and that’s fine too. They look forward to this time, reminding me of our upcoming date night earlier in the week—and so do I.
I think about those moments often as I watch my boys grow up so fast. So much of the Mother Lode feels like Groundhog Day: rise, shine, empty the dishwasher, walk to school, walk home, do the job, do all the things, walk back to school and home again, make dinner, sleep, repeat. I’m sure my husband’s and our kids’ days repeat in similar monotony. As grateful as I am for all that we have, it can be a grind for us all. So, I cherish the moments when I can remind them how special they are and how much they are loved, simply by remembering their favorite mug for hot chocolate, stocking up on their favorite treat of dried mangoes or Takis, or surprising them with a silly
note in their lunch.
During snuggle nights with my boys, they often lean in and say, I love you, Mama.
I love you too, my boy, I always say, as my heart explodes with joy, and for a moment, the Mother Load doesn’t seem like a burden at all. It feels like a gift.
Photo Credit Adrian Swancar