Growing up

I know there comes a time in every parents life where it becomes painfully obvious that they will not always be the most important person in their child's life. Last Friday was my moment with Tommy. Tom called me from the truck asking me very quietly if I had forgotten some plans I'd made for the evening (he had graciously picked up Tommy from school so they were together - I love my husband). He couldn't answer my question of "what" because the plans involved Tommy and he obviously didn't want Tommy to know that I had dropped the ball on something. I sat there and racked my brain going over everything I had planned that week and anyone I talked to thinking I had seriously messed up! So in "code" he was able to tell me it was the schools Valentines Day Dance that Tommy assumed he was going to. Well, I didn't WANT to go - it was already 4:00 in the afternoon and I had big plans to curl up on the couch after I got the kids down so I could RELAX - it was Friday afterall! So I told Tom to tell Tommy he wasn't allowed to just make plans and to have a discussion about this subject with him in the truck. Tom kinda snickered at me and said OK, I'll do that. Well, fast forward 10 minutes and in walks my precious little boy with 3 roses - 1 red, 1 pink and 1 white. I automatically thought they were for me but before I could say anything he looked at me with this tragic look on his face begging me to take him to the dance because he had already told Abby he was taking her. WHAT??? Not only was I in complete shock about him saying he was going to a dance with a girl, I had to next be told the roses were for her. I almost cried. A little bit because I was sad that not even ONE rose was for me but also because Tom and I raised such a sweet little guy to want to buy flowers for this little girl he has a crush on. So of course after all that I got my butt in gear and found the perfect outfit to escort Tommy to the dance in. He was so cute when he was getting ready - he wanted me to pick out an outfit that would make him look "handsome" for Abby. He was so excited he could barely contain himself. I just kept thinking to myself "when did I get here?" I still remember snuggling with him during his 3am feeding and watching him take his first steps. Now I was watching him get ready for his first school dance that he was going to so he could see a little girl from class! How fast time passes by...I guess the trick is to not let it pass YOU by.

Anyway, the dance was a success. Abby's dad was so sweet and knelt down to shake Tommy's hand and introduce himself. Abby looked so pretty and happy that Tommy was there to greet her. Her father told me later that on the way to the dance Abby said to him that "he was just driving her there but Tommy was her date!." How adorable can two 8 year old's really be? A few days before all this happened I was saying how happy I was that Tommy was not girl crazy and was as far away from all that as possible. HA! Little did I know that my son was busy writing a love note to his new girlfriend that said "You are smart and beautiful. You always get 100's on your tests." I have to say my son can definitely pick em'! Pretty AND smart :) Here is a picture from the dance - they were just too adorable!