Reminded..

This morning as I loaded up our children for what I thought would be a treat for them.. Dad taking them to school, because my wife always takes them.  I thought this treat was so inherently awesome that there wasn’t a chance that it wouldn’t be received well by our children.  That was until, until my daughter asked me in her beautifully innocent voice, “Dad, are you driving us to school”?  Yes I said, yes I am.  I just knew she must be as excited about this break from routine as I was…

Immediately she burst into tears, “I want mommy to drive us”, she said.  In those moments as I tried quickly to soothe her, in those moments I remembered that she is three years old, that routine gives her security, and that sometimes she just wants her mom.  Beg and plead as I might, nothing could or would change her mind, or stop her tears.  As we backed down the driveway the tears continued to flow.

I still took her, and her brothers.  It was a modest attempt at a Friday morning gift for my beautiful wife.

Instead the gift was mine, it was our daughter teaching me that she is three, and sometimes she wants things just as she wants them.  I was reminded to respect the complexities of her inner world, and cherish every moment.