On Thursdays, my daughter stays at the school after pick up time for choir. That leaves my 9 year old and I to hang out together for about 45 minutes. It’s not a long amount of time, and yet, it’s really really special.
We’ve done errands in that time before, quick jaunts to Best Buy, a fave store of his, to grab something I needed (knowing that he would enjoy stopping there with me), but our rituals on Thursday have become more routine. We either end up at the local Library where he picks out a new history book, comic book and Wii Game, and I browse to see if there’s anything new and noteworthy that I want to read. We chat about our reading choices, and he flips through the pages of a book option to see if it’s worth bringing home. We usually grab something for his sister too.
When we aren’t at the library, he asks to go to our local cafe. This means he scores a hot chocolate, and it’s not difficult to convince me to have an afternoon coffee. He likes to go and chat. If you ask him what he wants to do, he’ll say ‘chat’. That’s his thing. So we talk. Usually about Star Wars and any rumours we’ve heard or theories we have. We talk about school and in these moments he shares all the drama that comes with being in a grade four class. We make plans for the weekend or upcoming trips, a topic that this family can chat about endlessly.
In this moments he straddles being my first baby, and a pre-teen. A smart, clever, hilarious young man with a gift for puns and taking the joke when it’s lobbed in front of him. The 45 minutes goes quickly, I have to look at the clock more than I’d like to make sure we don’t miss getting his sister, but in those short moments I realize what a special guy he has become and I cherish that given the option to do anything in that time on Thursday afternoons he asks to go to the cafe for a chat, with his mom.
I hope we always can have those chats over a hot beverage.
I had a special “date night” with my 10 year old boy and felt the same about the special, precious and fun time shared with him. I am amazed at the little conversationalist he has become … and love that when I reach out my hand while we walk he still automatically grabs it and holds on so naturally and unabashedly. I know that is fleeting so I treasure it. Thanks for your post. I do always enjoy them.
I hope they always want to hang out and just chat! And yes, I love the hand holding!!
These little treasured pockets of one-on-one time are so wonderful.
It’s funny because they seem fleeting, yet as each child starts finding his or her own way, with new activities and hobbies, they actually come around more often. It’s a real sweet spot in this trippy parenting gig. 🙂
Chats with my Things always bring me joy. I loved reading this post.
I will definitely remember this for when my little girl grows up and we should start having our little date times. I can’t imagine when she will be this age it will seem like forever as she is only 7.5 months but i’m sure the time will fly.
I agree that time goes by far too quickly and we need to cherish even the smallest amount of one-on-one time with our children. Sometimes in the hurry and scuttle of life, we forget to take a time out for specific time with our individual children to give them our undivided attention. I hope that your Thursdays continue and you get to have your 45 minute date time!
I love this!! I think it is so important to sit down with your kids and just talk and I love that he is the one asking you. I think it is hilarious that his favorite thing to do is “chat.” As humans we thrive on conversation and having that conversation with him has to be so rewarding. I am sure having more than one child can make that hard so that is awesome that you have found that time once a week to really sit dow and just talk. Kids grow up way to fast and they really say the funniest things. I love getting together with kids that I nanny and just listen to them talk, kids are amazing.