Seriously

About thirty minutes after the two oldest headed off for school, Isaiah noticed Nathan's lunch box still in the fridge. I emailed his teacher immediately, hoping to stave off a melt down. (He's my easily stressed over the small stuff kid) Just moments later, the phone rang and it was Nathan. I assured him that I would bring it to the school.

"Will you bring it to my classroom?"

"I'll probably just drop it off at the office since I'll have the other kids in the car, buddy."

"Oh. (disappointment) Well, how many minutes will it take so I can come back up here."

For heaven's sake. "Nathan, I will bring it to your class, okay?"

"Okay, good. Thanks Mom. See you in a few minutes."

I figured he just needed a minute of reassuring love from his mom and I could comply. So, after feeding the little people, we bundled everyone up and loaded into the van. I parked as close to the front as possible and threatened Isaiah with wrath of biblical proportions if he opened the door for any reason short of the van catching fire.

I signed in and tore through the halls of the school at record pace. When I reached Nathan's class, his teacher said "There you go, Nathan. You'll get to eat lunch now." He looked up at me from his desk (just three feet from the door) and stared. I stared back.

"Just put it in that basket by the door." he said. I looked around and pointed. "Yeah, just put it in there." I did. I waited. He smiled. A "thanks but why are you still standing there" smile.

I whispered, "Nathan, could I see you for a second?" He looked confused by this request. I tried to force my eyes to stay open and not disappear into evil slits. "Nathan, could you please come here for a moment?"

He climbed from his chair and met me in the hallway where he gave me a tentative hug AFTER scoping the hall for any onlookers. Seriously?!

And that was that. The boy who insisted on my physical presence even at the risk of his own siblings safety barely gave me a second look. Goofball!