I had originally said we'd get McDonald's for lunch. Because in prior years that had been his favorite. And with a kid like him who doesn't love food, really at all, you go with it.
But I didn't want McDonald's. Like at all. And I didn't want any of the other drive through options and we had an hour until we had to pick up sister. So we ended up at his very favorite sit down place instead.
Just he and I. How strange. And as he pointed out ...
This never happens.
So we got our little table for two and they brought us chips and I ordered him the preferred but often not allowed apple juice and off we went.
What do you think they're doing at school today?
[shrugs] I dunno.
What will they do at recess?
Probably just play tag.
Will they all want to sign your cast?
[shrugs]
What should we do this weekend?
Eh, can't do much now. [indicates the few hours old cast on his left arm]
Silence follows. I ask some other question about friends and Pinewood Derby. But he's look at the TV's over my head at the bar. So far ... this mini date is a total bust. A few minutes later food arrives.
More beats of silence while he's looking at the TVs over my head.
Mom, are the Rams any good?
And it hits me like a splash of ice. He's not a little kid. I mean he is, lets not go nuts. But he's increasingly aware of real world events and the NFL playoffs are very much on his (and his friends) radar.
This I can talk about. And suddenly it feels like all those stupid nights watching football with Lewis and learning all of this ridiculous nonsense was very worth it.
Well I don't know a lot about the Rams but lets see what the commentators are saying about the game. So I pull up a profile and we learn that the Rams defense is awful against the running game and the Cowboys have been on fire in that area lately. But the Rams through the ball well and we'll see if Dak can respond or if he caves if they start wracking up points early.
He's gotta get the ball to Zeke, he says. And again, that ice water. It's like a chill down your spine when you realize they are turning into the coolest of people who are paying attention. So we talked about football.
And I'm glad that I made the effort all those years ago to know a little about the sports my husband was so interested in. It pays off a bit with him anyway but it's really useful in raising two boys in Texas. Our whole world is most certainly not sports and they will play football over my dead body but when your local team is in the playoffs ... everybody is interested then.
But I didn't want McDonald's. Like at all. And I didn't want any of the other drive through options and we had an hour until we had to pick up sister. So we ended up at his very favorite sit down place instead.
Just he and I. How strange. And as he pointed out ...
This never happens.
So we got our little table for two and they brought us chips and I ordered him the preferred but often not allowed apple juice and off we went.
What do you think they're doing at school today?
[shrugs] I dunno.
What will they do at recess?
Probably just play tag.
Will they all want to sign your cast?
[shrugs]
What should we do this weekend?
Eh, can't do much now. [indicates the few hours old cast on his left arm]
Silence follows. I ask some other question about friends and Pinewood Derby. But he's look at the TV's over my head at the bar. So far ... this mini date is a total bust. A few minutes later food arrives.
More beats of silence while he's looking at the TVs over my head.
Mom, are the Rams any good?
And it hits me like a splash of ice. He's not a little kid. I mean he is, lets not go nuts. But he's increasingly aware of real world events and the NFL playoffs are very much on his (and his friends) radar.
This I can talk about. And suddenly it feels like all those stupid nights watching football with Lewis and learning all of this ridiculous nonsense was very worth it.
Well I don't know a lot about the Rams but lets see what the commentators are saying about the game. So I pull up a profile and we learn that the Rams defense is awful against the running game and the Cowboys have been on fire in that area lately. But the Rams through the ball well and we'll see if Dak can respond or if he caves if they start wracking up points early.
He's gotta get the ball to Zeke, he says. And again, that ice water. It's like a chill down your spine when you realize they are turning into the coolest of people who are paying attention. So we talked about football.
And I'm glad that I made the effort all those years ago to know a little about the sports my husband was so interested in. It pays off a bit with him anyway but it's really useful in raising two boys in Texas. Our whole world is most certainly not sports and they will play football over my dead body but when your local team is in the playoffs ... everybody is interested then.
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