The Calvinator

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< > February 2006

• Sat, Feb 11, 2006 8:00 PM

  It's the Simple Things
  
  On Friday, one of Calvin's classmates handed out his Valentines early since he'd be gone on Tuesday. In that Valentine, the classmate gave Calvin a Hershey's kiss and therefore, the world.
  
  When I picked him up, the first words out of his mouth were, "Mama, I got chaw-kut!" He repeated this phrase every 3 seconds until I acknowledged his treasure and then he repeated it a few more times just to make sure I truly understood the magnitude of the lottery he'd won.
  
  I was mean and told him he had to wait until he got to the car before he could open and eat it because I didn't want to trigger WWIII and leave the teachers to deal with 20 screaming kids who still had shiny wrapped treasures waiting for them in their cubbies and still more than 30 seconds before their respective parents would be there to OK the treat.
  
  Calvin tucked his fortune safely into his pocket and bolted for the car. Normally I would have laughed at him, but if all that stood between me and a piece of chocolate was a mere 30 feet to the car, I would have done the same and made a mad dash for the car; no doubt taking Calvin down in the process.
  
  I didn't even have the car seat straps snapped before he had unwrapped the kiss with the precision of a surgeon performing surgery. The look on his face was priceless; exquisite joy with a touch of giddiness. My son was no doubt the happiest child on the planet.
  
  As we drove to pick up Papa, he made that kiss last a full 10 minutes and left me wondering when the last time I'd been that happy about something so trivial and also had the good sense to make it last as long as possible.
  
  It didn't take me long to realize Calvin was scads smarter than I was when it comes to knowing and appreciating what's really important. It's the little things that really matter, but what truly makes them so precious is the ability to milk them for all they're worth and make them last. I just hope age doesn't rob him of that knowledge.
  
  SIGH. Parental Duty #5,486,759,431,258: Practice what you preach.
  
  Now how the hell am I going to torture Joep while telling Calvin to be nice? Huh?!

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