Nathanael tiptoed into the bedroom and I felt his eyes on me before I was fully aware of his presence. It’s a rather unpleasant feeling to be watched while you’re asleep.
“What’s the matter?”
“I don’t feel so good” he whispered.
“Do you have a headache?”
“No.”
“A tummy ache?” I clumsily reached up to feel his forehead which was cool
and damp.“No.”
“Worried about making the mortgage payment?”
(pause)
“No.”
“Did you have a bad dream?”
“Yeah.”
I’m so glad that I’m his soft place to land. It’s one of those special mother privileges that I’ve never taken for granted. I just had to get up and write about it so I can remember this feeling when my nest is empty.
“Mom.”
“What, Scooter?”
“Your typing is keeping me awake.”
Yeah. Parenting. The hardest job I’ll ever love.
