Because Little Things Mean A Lot

We’ve had a crazy couple of months here at the Ferrier house as the family has adjusted to my new job, but everyone now seems to be settling in nicely. Bruiser’s crying when I leave him at preschool or in the YMCA nursery is now entirely fake, and something of an afterthought. His teachers all say that as soon as I’m out of the room, he drops the act entirely and runs off to play with his friends.

Clearly, the kid knows how to push my buttons.

I’m leaving for a few days again at the end of this week, and Punky for the first time has been fretting aloud about how often I’m traveling, but I reminded her that it’s really only a few days a month, and that even with those days included, she sees me far more than most kids see their parents. That seemed to make her feel better. The fact is, I’m thinking that going away for a few days each month may make them appreciate me a little more when I’m around.

Dennis has been fantastic, and is helping out every way he can. The only thing that really seems to be suffering is that I don’t cook as often as I used to– but we’ve been on a healthy living kick, so we’re dealing. Some nights he cooks, some nights I cook and some nights, he brings food home. We’ve also discovered the joys of the Harris Teeter salad bar- YUM.

And after several weeks watching cable news networks around the clock, reading a dozen newspapers a day, and haunting political websites, I’m feeling up to speed on all that I’m covering as an election correspondent. It’s fascinating to me, but I have to admit that the debates are getting old. I watched two over the weekend and found it was hard to pay attention. “I know exactly what they’re going to say before they even say it,” I told Hubs. “I feel like I could answer these questions for them!” Seriously. SO MANY DEBATES. And even more to come! Bizarre.

But I’m happy. I’m having fun. I’m really enjoying traveling a few days a month, visiting new cities, and being in the epicenter of news coverage, jockeying for position with some of the journalism heroes of my childhood. I love the adrenaline rush of interviewing the candidates on camera. I love meeting moms from all over the country, and listening to what they have to say. And I love that I can come home the next day and be a normal mom, picking up my kids from school, mopping the kitchen floor, and watching ‘The Bachelor’ on DVR.

Yes, our schedule’s a little more hectic these days, but even my 4-year-old is making it work… A few days ago, I was getting ready to take him to preschool and then head on to three other errands. I had his backpack, his lunchbag, my purse, my phone, and an umbrella in my arms, and as he came out the front door, I closed it behind him and started to lock it.

“Hey!” Bruiser shouted with alarm. “You got for-bout my jacket!” (‘Got forbout’ is Bruiser-speak for ‘forgot about.’)

“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry!” I said. “I have so much going on today!” I opened the door, grabbed his jacket from off the hook and helped him into it. “There we go!” I said. “All set!”

“You got for-bout anything else?” Bruiser asked with tender concern as we made our way down the front steps.

“I don’t think so,” I told him.

“You got your keys?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You got your wall-it?”

“Yes.”

“You got your phone?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” he said, satisfied. “We ready to go.”

Keys. Wallet. Phone.  Three things a person should never leave without. My kid’s four and already, he’s mastered a life lesson some of us STILL have trouble with.

Yep. I’d say things are going just fine…

Image via Starpause Kid/Flickr