I Just Want to Thank the Academy….

OK, so I didn\’t get the esteemed Academy Award, but I think I got something better.

We decided to go to Red Robin for dinner with another couple last night. I told Joel about our dinner plans. Immediately, he asked if it was for his birthday. He had asked to go there for his birthday 2 months earlier. He wanted the birthday song, the attention and the ice cream with whipped cream and topeed with a cherry. We never made it on or near the day.

\”Joel, I don\’t think so…\” Then I said to myself, \”The boy has had enough birthday, besides it was almost 2 weeks ago…\”

With resolve — yet sweetly, Joel asked 2 more times, and I told him I\’d talk to Dad.

We did it. I talked to our waiter (who happened to be a friend of ours) and arranged the birthday scene. The line of waiters came, presented the treat and paper glasses with the huge eyes, and sang the song that drives most people crazy at restaurants. Joel sat calmly, with a silly little expression on his mouth (his eyes were behind the very large \”glasses\”). He happily ate his ice cream sundae, shared some with his sister then we all got up to leave.

Joel decided to leave with a little flare (typical Joel) that puffed up Mommy — in a good way. Joel walked along the bench seat as he came from behind the booth and announced,

\”I\’D LIKE TO THANK MY MOMMY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for my birthday!\”

We talk about \”those moments\” in motherhood. You know, the ones that make the hard stuff kinda worth it… this was one of those moments. No prodding… it came from his genuinely thankful heart.