Laowai

Claire turned four this weekend. Four! Just yesterday she was looking like this:

And now she is this big:

Here is something I wrote about Claire a few weeks ago and never posted. I’ll put some birthday pictures up soon.

Claire and I have been in a sort of sweet spot when it comes to grocery shopping (knock on wood). She is so good and happy to be my little helper whenever we have to get groceries. She sometimes sits in the cart and organizes the groceries for me. Sometime she just tags along – skipping and singing up and down the aisles. It seems every time we go at least one person has to say hi to her – usually an older person who is not in a hurry. They notice how cute she is. I once had a lady say to me “I’ve never seen anyone so happy in a grocery store”. I think her favorite grocery store is Trader Joe’s because they have little carts and free samples. The employees are really friendly and she often gets stickers when we check out.

I’ve been thinking about how it is being a parent. It really is a two sided thing. When I reflect on my life with my kids I feel so lucky to be able to watch them grow up. Seeing them learning and discovering. And just being around little people who smile and laugh so easily – it’s wonderful isn’t it. But then there is also the part where you have to be able to withstand annoying behavior and you have to have incredible patience. Waiting for a three year old to buckle their seatbelt when you really just want to get out of the cold and get going. Listening to endless questions like how many yesterdays are there mommy? Feeling like there is always someone who wants something from mommy – every moment of the day.

So I feel torn. And then I see a lady coming toward us in the grocery store and she looks at Claire in all her cuteness and the lady gets a twinkle eyed smile on her face. She know. She knows how sweet this time is and how fleeting it is. And I feel a little choked up as I try to choose some applesauce. Someday I’ll have to grocery shop without my little deputy of sweetness.