A Friendly Journey

Cub is having a brand new journey as I write this.  And it was a journey for me, as well.  A journey of letting go and watching him expand his wings and break away from Mommy a little bit.  I am choked up with pride at his blossoming, and at the same time am sad at being replaced.

He wanted to play with a boy this afternoon.  I was told that Mommy is not allowed to play Zurg in his game of Buzz vs. Zurg because Zurg is a boy.  Mommy is not a boy.  *sigh*  So off we went to a neighbor's house and Cub asked the Mommy-of-the-House if the little boy could come over and play.  Sadly, the answer was no, he's getting ready to go somewhere.  Cub was crushed.  It broke my heart to see his face fall.  Maybe another day, he was told.  After a small protest we departed.

It seemed little consolation that I offered we could try asking another boy in the neighborhood.  Again he asked the Mommy-of-the-House if the little boy could come over and play.  She seemed hesitant because they have to go somewhere soon, too, but the boy said he'd like to and she said ok for a little while.  Cub practically floated on air as he ran home, leading the way.

His journey today was one of branching out beyond what's comfortable and known.   We rehearsed what he should say, what words to use to be polite.  He soared with flying colors!  And learned a hard lesson that sometimes the answer is no.  I think that furthered his journey of learning about playing with people who don't live in the same house he does.

With this experience my journey today has been one of watching him reach out to others and allow him the space and safety to do so.  Having another child in our home playing, without another adult supervising said child is new for me, too, being responsible for someone else's child.  I am enjoying listening to them playing, interacting with one another, deciding how to proceed with what they are playing.  It makes my heart swell knowing he has reached a new milestone.  And at the same time I am sad that I truly, truly, no longer have a baby, toddler, small child who looks to Mommy for total companionship.

Although he has been running over to me every so often to tell me what's going on.  I like that.  :)

It's a good day.  A good journey for both of us.