Hitting the Jackpot

Harry and Gabriella were up late last night so they slept in today. We had a playdate with some friends this afternoon so I woke them in time to get ready to go. I was encouraging Harry to get dressed and I reminded him that Jim had brought up a load of laundry last night and that Harry had "Hit the Jackpot" because he had more clean clothes in the laundry basket than anyone else in the family including a favorite dragon tee shirt.

Also this week there was a big lottery drawing. One so big people were posting about it on Face Book. One so enormous that it came up in Harry's Karate class. So huge that Jim actually bought a ticket.

Listening Harry's sleepy voice saying, "Mawma did I hit the Jackpot?" Looking at him comfortable and warm in the bed knowing there would be a fun afternoon with friends ahead and a clean favorite shirt to wear. I was able to assure him he did indeed win the jackpot and he doesn't even have to know that I wasn't talking about laundry.

When Gabriella was about 2 we attended a week long conference in New Hampshire. Meals were served in a university dining hall and we often sat with other people. Gabriella had recently attended her first parade several weeks earlier and it loomed large for her. She was also beginning to pick up the idea that there were certain patterns of conversation with new acquaintances (such as how was morning session?) and she was eager to show off what she had learned. I'll never forget the intense look she gave me when she scrambled up onto her chair across the table from me looked me in the eye and said "So, how's the parade going?"

We thought it was so funny at the time but upon reflection I have come to realize that it can symbolize all of our family's journey as parents learning from and alongside our children and as children learning to navigate the world around them in a supportive environment facilitated by the adults who love them.