Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

This morning I took Jon for a visit with his biological father. I don't like for Jon to be gone for lots of reasons, mostly because I don't like it when the family isn't together and I miss him. I also don't think his father is a favorable role model for Jon to follow. But that is a rant for another time. For now, all I can do is let things progress the way they will. I guess it's good that he only sees his son for about 15 days a year...

Anyhoo, Annie always likes to tag along when I take Jon to the designated meeting place. We don't do much of anything, drive about an hour there and another hour back. Sometimes we talk on the ride but usually the kids just sit quietly and look out the window. Still, Annie likes to ride along, in fact, she likes to ride along when I go to the hardware store, post office, almost anywhere. Jon did at that age too and I kind of like to take them, even though it adds a degree of complication to most errands, picking up a gallon of milk is a completely different experience when you take a preschooler with you. I don't get a lot of weaseling and whining for candy and cakes, instead I learn how they think. Years ago when I was at the store with Jon, I ran into a friend who had both arms covered with prison looking tattoos. Jon asked me if he was tougher than me. (Remember back when tattoo=tough?) Annie sometimes walks through a store with me communicating entirely in song. How can that not be fun? Why do so many people ask me if I got stuck babysitting when I'm letting the urchins tag along? Is it unusual to not want to hang out with your own kids? Why the hell would anyone not want to spend time with these monsters? I know I'm probably being naive because the difficult teenage years are looming on the horizon and soon Jon won't even want to be seen in public with me. Until then though, he still thinks I'm not a complete dweeb. My cool days are numbered.