What Does Love Have to do With it?

September 17, 2010

What Does Love Have to do With it?

“Mom, I love you” my three-year-old informs me from the back seat of our car, and as the sentiment is completely unprompted, the sting of that truncated “mom” from “mommy” is ameliorated, at least for the moment.

“I love you too, honey” I reply, grateful as ever to have this exchange in words, always ecstatic to hear a full sentence, particularly as it’s coupled with the proper use of a pronoun. While Justin and I understand one another completely, seem to have transcended the need for vocal communication to “speak” with one another, this verbal interplay with my youngest still tickles me. Honestly, it wasn’t that long ago I was contemplating spending an entire lifetime without one proper conversation with either one of my offspring. I continue to herald each word from Zachary, no matter how whiny or bossy, with an accompanying imaginary parade.

“How do you love me, Mom?” he responds, as always, that child who pushes things just a wee bit further. I know that he’s quoting a line from a lovely Baby Einstein video which has poetry as its focus, and since it’s one of Justin’s favorite parts, we’ve all heard it many, many, many times.

“I love you all the way around the world and back, sweetheart” I tell him as I slip my sunglasses down the bridge of my nose so I can deliver my answer with eye contact, and am rewarded for my troubles with a satisfied smile. This give and take is a staple in our repertoire, a litany of love I imagine brings him comfort. I swivel back to return my eyes to the road, and decide it’s my turn to push things just a little bit further too.

“Zachy, what does love feel like?” I ask him, and am prepared for silence as I imagine this query will utterly stymie him. I wait two, three, four seconds, prepared to question him once again, then let my whim go. I glance back in my rearview mirror in time to see him gaze back at me, open his mouth, and in a stage whisper utter one word. “Magic”.

Wow. If this isn’t a Kodak moment even though I’m driving to the dentist, I don’t know what is.

I sit with this one for a moment, swept up in the inherent sweetness of his response, knowing it may be a while, if ever, that he answers anything so perfectly again. Of course I want to be certain of what I heard, so I regard him once again, repeat my fanciful question, and say “Sweetie, love feels like magic, right?”

He stares back at me for a full second, sports a devilish grin, and comes back with this.

“No, it doesn’t”.

I know, when I relate this story to my girlfriends, they will gleefully inform me, “hey Kim, welcome to “three”.

And believe me, I’m just happy to be here.

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