Broken

We do this best/worst part of your day conversation every night, just to see what is going on. (Background: Ethan is with his dad today and tonight, just spoke with him on the phone.)

"Ethan, best part of your day?" "Seeing you at my basketball game!"

"Worst part of your day?" "Saying goodbye to you after my basketball game."

My heart just cracked, then fell on the floor, and then broke into 50 zillion pieces.

I used to practice family law, being on the other side of the fence is a whole different ball game.

It's Official

It's official.

I am giving up marriage for Lent.

But not brownies, definitely not brownies.

That would be asking too much.

Love

One hope I have for my son as he grows, above all others, is that he become a kind person. This is the first Valentine's in sixteen years that my plans did not include La Perla and the anticipation of something sparkly, ideally in Tiffany blue. I wanted to think outside the box (pun intended) to make this holiday memorable for both of us. Lobster ravioli, naturally, but beyond that?

First stop, Mom-delivered surprise heart-shaped Papa John's for lunch (old sorority girl habits die hard). The smile on E's face that I brought a Whole! Heart! Shaped! Large! Pepperoni! Pizza! to his school cafeteria was something I won't soon forget (and confirmed that NEJM journal article about the male stomach-to-heart connection).

After school, we picked up two dozen roses to hand out to residents at an Alzheimer's assisted living facility. E was not, to say the least, originally enthused about this concept, especially since it meant he might miss basketball practice. I said, "Trust me on this one, you'll be happy we went."

An hour later, our rose supply was depleted, and E had twenty-four new friends. I had to wipe a tear away as I watched him graciously receive four hugs, from the same woman, and then repeat to her, patiently, four times, and with a kind smile, "It's Valentine's Day ... third grade ... I know, my mom IS sweet."

As we left, he asked, "Can we do that again next Valentine's Day?"

My heart is full, and proud.