People Who Need People . . .

Saw the sweetest thing this morning. I was dropping my littlest dude off at school when I noticed all of the tiny people skittering around the place like confident ants. They seemed to know what they were doing and where they were going, and even though there were several parents standing off to the sides (making sure the kidlets got inside the building and reassuring themselves that their offspring still needed them) most of these small-adults-in-the-making seemed pretty cool about it all.

Including my little guy.

And I wondered – do I really need to do all these mom-things like hanging around for that last second before the bell rings? Picking up the scooter. Waving my older kids off to the bus or down the street to the High School. Or back off to college after a weekend spent at home reminding herself why she left? Do they need it? Maybe I'm, you know, extra. They're so confident nowadays.

And then all of a sudden Last Little Dude ran back to the car and said, "Mom! I forgot to kiss you goodbye!" (not old enough yet to be embarrassed by the mere fact that I breathe) Then he popped inside, kissed my cheek, turned his to receive mine, and trotted back to the playground, happy as a clam (assuming clams are happy), to line up with his class.

I turned into butter.

THEN I looked up and saw a girl; had to be in sixth grade, judging by her über-cool destroyed jeans, short-sleeved blouse, and flip-flops (despite the 50 degree weather), not to mention the aloofness of attitude. By her side bounced a small boy – first grade by the looks of him and his excitement level. She sort of ignored him as she turned to head toward her class. Then suddenly she stopped, turned back to the boy, straightened his hair and hugged him to her waist. She patted his back, sent him off in his direction, and with one more look, moved away. The little guy walked on looking back at his sister (as I'm sure she was) every few feet. And he was smiling.

People often talk about how hard and cold the world is getting. But we still need each other. I just think we should notice it more. And enjoy every second of it.