Reflection on Life at the Mall Food Court

Marc is in Dallas at his yearly professional conference. Our phone calls are normally about how boring his sessions are and how much he and his father have eaten. Since Marc is away, I was trying to think of special things to do with Lucas. Wednesday we needed to go shopping so I decided to head to our local food court for dinner then off to the grocery store.

While Lucas and I were eating our lovely dinners, some random thoughts came to mind. Like for as loud and active as he is normally, Lucas did great eating, undistracted, quietly and even in a regular chair! I didn't want to fuss with the mall highchairs. Sure, he probably could have used a phone book to boost him up a few inches but for the most part, he was able to reach his chicken tenders and didn't let all the other activity get in the way of our meal together. I was able to really look at him and realize that he is truly a little boy now. no more babies for him. That was just reinforced when he pulled up his pants after I had changed him and he is also tried to get his jacket off without my help. I know it seems silly-you are his mom, of course you should be noticing these changes in him, but sometimes they are really subtle and you don't see them.

I also had a moment of absolute panic there-I didn't have Lucas in his stroller, i figured he could use the walk and he is pretty good about holding my hand when we are out. As I tried to manage my purse, his diaper bag, our food while I had to go to a second food place to buy his milk, I lost sight of him for a half second. He was walking around next to me and within sight but suddenly, I didn't see him anymore. Luckily he was right next to me but i was looking farther out. all I could imagine is that someone had taken him and it wouldn't have been that hard. I would have been easy prey-a mom distracted by other things for only a second, a fairly busy spot in the food court and a little boy who was testing his freedom. I was sick to my stomach after that. I had my hand on his thigh all through dinner. At one point he asked me, "Why you holding me?" And I simply said because "I love you and don't want anything to happen to you."