A special moment in time.
Two nights ago - the night before Philip left - something special happened. We had all been in our jammies, ready to finish up the last bits of laundry that he would need to pack, and I told A.J. that it would be bedtime soon, for he and Jack would need to wake up so much earlier than usual the next day.
He looked at me with big eyes, and his lip started to quiver just a bit as he said, "But Dad promised that we would go to Target together and spend time just looking at all the toys."
Well, I knew nothing of this plan. I told him that he'd need to ask Dad about it, and I explained that it was getting pretty late in the evening already, so I really didn't know. A.J. walked into the living room where Philip was still packing, but he was too shy to bring it up. I told Philip that A.J. needed to ask him something, and that propelled A.J. to spit it out.
Philip's eyes grew big, and I could tell that he'd forgotten this promise. Over A.J.'s head, I nodded that he should go ahead, even if it would make the night a bit later. So the two of them changed back into real clothes and headed out for some special time together at the last minute. Jack stayed home with me, and since he was in his room listening to his CD player, he never even knew they left, nor did he care to ask. He was happy as a clam doing his own thing, and I knew that A.J. would relish the special "Dad time" with just Philip while they did something they both enjoy: look at new toys.
They came home about an hour later. No purchases in hand (it wasn't part of the deal, and it's not about the toys - it's about the time shared), and A.J. was all smiles as he changed back into his jammies. I think they had a nice time together. :-)
He looked at me with big eyes, and his lip started to quiver just a bit as he said, "But Dad promised that we would go to Target together and spend time just looking at all the toys."
Well, I knew nothing of this plan. I told him that he'd need to ask Dad about it, and I explained that it was getting pretty late in the evening already, so I really didn't know. A.J. walked into the living room where Philip was still packing, but he was too shy to bring it up. I told Philip that A.J. needed to ask him something, and that propelled A.J. to spit it out.
Philip's eyes grew big, and I could tell that he'd forgotten this promise. Over A.J.'s head, I nodded that he should go ahead, even if it would make the night a bit later. So the two of them changed back into real clothes and headed out for some special time together at the last minute. Jack stayed home with me, and since he was in his room listening to his CD player, he never even knew they left, nor did he care to ask. He was happy as a clam doing his own thing, and I knew that A.J. would relish the special "Dad time" with just Philip while they did something they both enjoy: look at new toys.
They came home about an hour later. No purchases in hand (it wasn't part of the deal, and it's not about the toys - it's about the time shared), and A.J. was all smiles as he changed back into his jammies. I think they had a nice time together. :-)