I love just being with you

The other day when my husband came home from running errands with our baby, Peregrine, I was bummed.

My 3-year-old, Owen, and I were supposed to have had some special time together, just the two of us while they were gone. That almost never happens. I had been excited about what big kid things we could do together unemcumbered by Pip. We could read books with ripable pages! We could put together a puzzle! We could do art! But Owen wasn’t excited about any of my ideas and somehow the time passed without us doing anything at all. This really bummed me out. Then I saw Owen’s face.

He was smiling. He had been having a great time. He didn’t want to “do” with me, he wanted to “be” with me. Of course! It was so obvious that I missed it. I even missed that that was what I really wanted too. It wasn’t about reading or a puzzle or art. It was about Owen, and me, and being together.

I wonder when I will stop being surprised at the things I learn from my children.

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Published by Emily P.G. Erickson

Emily P.G. Erickson is a freelance writer specializing in mental health and parenting. She has written for popular digital publications, including Everyday Health, Health, The New York Times, Parents, Romper, WIRED, and more. Emily is a professional member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ). Previously, Emily researched PTSD for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and earned a master's in psychology. You can find the latest from Emily at www.emilypgerickson.com.

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