My 300 year old toddler

My son is an old soul. I don’t know of another 3 year old that cups your face in his hands, looks straight into that non-physical part of your being, and reads you. He tells me “Mommy. (whispering) I love you SO much!” When he does this, it changes you.

He has changed my parents in this way. He has hugged them with a hug that is long and full of determination to will his love directly though his arms. It’s a hug that steadily gets tighter and last longer than you might believe possible for the attention span of a 3 year old. He has looked them in the face (on separate occasions) and has told them, “I missed you SO MUCH!” It has left them stunned. Then they try to relay to me what he has done to them, how he has affected them. It’s difficult to describe but I know what they are feeling.

This is the boy with his father’s dazzling smile. Women of all ages swoon when he flashes that picket fence grin which reaches his eyes every time. And his glasses only add to the charm. I know this charm. It strikes me with every sincere apology he makes.

No matter how toddler-terrorific the day has been, ending the day with him in my arms singing Baby Mine calmes my soul. First, he only wanted me to sing to him. Then he started singing along. Now he cups my face, strokes my brow and places his hand on my breastbone when we get to the line “Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine.”

Tonight he said to me “Sometimes you upset Mommy.” (This was odd timing because I han’t gotten upset today) I told him “Yes. Sometimes Mommy gets upset. It’s ok to feel upset sometimes. I also feel happy a lot too.” As I smiled, looking into the eyes of my 3 year old soul, he excitedly stated, “You SO happy Mommy!” And I am. I am so happy and grateful for this beautiful family. I told him, “I think you are going to do something very special in this world Bub. You are an old soul.”

And just like that, he went from 300 back to 3 and hopped into bed asking about our plans for tomorrow.