This is one of those short snippets of life that I never want to forget.
I've mentioned before that my youngest, Benny (age 3 1/2), is developmentally delayed, and although growing, his verbal skills and vocabulary are behind most kids his age. One big example is vocabulary to express emotions. As previously written here and here, he knows what "I'm sad" feels like, but he communicates it, "I sorry". He also knows what "I'm happy" feels like, but he communicates it, "happy birthday!"
This weekend, Jen was away with her Mom on a women's retreat with her Mom's church. I was in charge... which means I put aside many of the projects that often distract me, and focused on just being a Dad a little more than I usually do.
Saturday was unseasonably warm in northeast Ohio... like 70-degree-range-two-months-earlier-than-normal warm! Saturday evening, I got the fire pit out of the shed and set it up for the first backyard fire of the season. I was sitting around the fire with all the kids, with Benny cuddling on my lap (the ONLY safe place for Benny to be when a fire is burning!)
Benny looked up at me and sweetly asked, "Dad... this a happy birthday?"
Yes, Benny, not by the calendar, but the moment feels a lot like a happy birthday to me!
What a GREAT moment!!
ReplyDeleteI am often guilty of being too busy to "stop and smell the roses".
This was one of those rose garden moments - and am delighted that you were able to enjoy it!
Well deserved my freind... WELL DESERVED!