In the doghouse

I returned from my 1692 mile trip today in the favor of only one of my two boys. Little man was not speaking to me. It seemed innocent--at first. He was asleep when Josh retrieved me from the airport and upon groggily waking when we pulled onto our street he avoided eye contact and stared into space perhaps still sleepy. Segue this into the next five minutes where he clearly cried only when I held him and vocalized his preference for “Dada!” My heart broke. Despite my best efforts, it became clear that I was in the doghouse.

Hudson at the his first sprint car race Friday night.

Somewhere in the middle of Texas I received this on my phone.

God bless technology and Josh for all the videos, pics, and messages!

It took 47 minutes for him to laugh at an antic of mine and 51 minutes to touch me, even if it was a rather rough pat to my head seemingly conveying his displeasure in my sixty one hour absence. After a couple pushes on the backyard swing and sharing a fudge striped cookie (okay-- multiple cookies), I seemed to be making some headway. Over two hours after my return I walked alone the length of the driveway to get the Sunday newspaper and his anxious, but familiar cry “Mama?!” meant I was back in the nook. He wanted to keep tabs on me. Don’t stress, little man, I just may never leave you again.

The reality of the situation is this: for many months I have privately thought how I wished I could explain to the grandparents and other relatives whom Hudson sees infrequently that it takes time for Hudson or any toddler to warm up to a new (and sometimes even distantly familiar) face. Walking into our house might make you geared up for a smathering of kisses and hugs, but rarely—if ever—is he on the same page. Yes, in just a couple of minutes you will all be friends again, but give. him. time.

I needed to take my own advice. No one could have been more anxious to get off of Southwest flight 746 this morning, but that did not make my toddler with the memory span equivalent of a gnat feel the same. I just had to give him time and when he was ready, two hours and ten minutes later, slobbery kisses abounded and he let me hold him without complaint.

That is all for now. I am off to spend quality time with the boy who was not mad at my return!!