They are undergoing a consolidation at my son’s daycare.  It was determined that the building housing its sister institution was too worn to warrant repair.  They have given notice to the parents at that site that the daycare will be closing, have moved what staff can be moved over to my son’s facility, and are offering slots to as many children as the capacity allows.  In short, they are crammed to the eaves with kids.

In the great migration, my son’s class aquired a new teacher.  A sunny sweet girl with a round face and glasses, she is pleasant and, as far as I can tell, infinitely patient.  Even though the increased population has exponentially increased the chaos in his class, since she transferred over he no longer dreads being left, and runs eagerly to his room, where she greets him with unfeigned enthusiasm, picking him up and giving him hugs. 

 Heartily tired of long hours on my current project, I left the office early and drove the few blocks to pick up my son.  As I tucked him up in my arms, and checked his box for his daily notes, she flagged me down.

“Your son is SO affectionate!”

“Really?”

“Oh yes, all day he has been hugging me, and giving big kisses and patting my cheeks.  He is just so charming.”

“This son?  This one right here?” (The one who ran through the house, muddy dog and shoes in tow, screaming like a banshee and evading my grasp not six hours before)

“Oh, yes, and he talks SO sweet.” (Oh, yeah, those sweet screams of “NO, NO, NO, MOMMY, NO!” the entire FIVE minutes I had the audacity to take alone in the shower).

Harry gave her a big cheesy grin.

“I really look forward to seeing him everyday”

Oh, I bet.  “He’s a charmer, all right,”  as I waved goodbye.

As I was strapping him into the carseat, I looked down at him playing quietly with his plastic dinosaurs, completely ignoring me.  “You dog.  You total cheese.  What are you getting?  Extra juice at lunch?  Longer turns with the ride-ons?  You don’t shower ME with hugs and kisses.  And I am your MOTHER!”

He just looked at me with a big toothy grin.