I miss Ava throughout the day. Our car rides home are where we reconnect and learn about what each other has done that day. I pick her up at her ridiculously loud daycare, where I always go to her locker and pick up her backpack while she wraps up whatever fun project she’s working on. She is always so happy to see me. Her smile radiates from a deep lovely place. She smiles with her whole body. Each day, it’s the same drill. She hugs the receptionist (her former daycare teacher) good bye. She pushes the green button to open the door. She opens the door for me. And like clockwork, slips her soft little warm hand in mine as we walk into the parking lot to the car.
And it is here in this short ten minute drive that I connect with my little girl every day. Her stories are hilarious, moving, lovely. Just like her. And our conversations always start the same:
“What did you do today, Ava?”
Her answers vary. But the other day, our conversation went like this:
“What did you do today, Ava?”
“I had music class and I love it.”
“Who did you play with on the playground?”
“Aliyah and Desmond and Alyssa.”
“Does Aliyah sit at your table in class anymore?”
“No, momma. Maximus and Vincenza sit at my table.”
“Maximus and Vincenza?! You have some kids with really cool names in your class.”
“Yeah… I think Maximus loves me, momma.”
“Oh yeah? Why do you think that?”
“Well, during writer’s workshop today, I looked at his paper and it said ‘To Ava’ and he drew hearts all over it.”
“Of course he loves you, you are amazing. If I was Maximus I would love you.”
“I love you, momma. You’re my favorite momma in the whole world.”
“You’re my favorite person in the whole world, Ava.”
We do the same thing! The drive home, and right before going to sleep…those are our two times to catch up. Every night after we read our bedtime stories, D says “Momma, can you tell me about your day?” I love it!
These are my favorite times. I would love to hear your conversations with him. 🙂
Ok, that is cute! Favorite part of my day is seeing my son after work. Makes it all worth it!
Justin Knight recently posted..Adoption Series Part 5: We’re Back In The Running!
It really does make it all worth it. Sometimes it’s hard to get them to talk, but it is so absolutely worth the effort.