And then there is the fourth child

I remember ten years ago when it would be time for me and my only child to go somewhere. Like the library. I would pick out something adorable for him to wear, clean his face, and gel his hair just perfectly. You never know when you might see someone you know, ya know? So fast-forward a decade and the following is kinda how we roll.

Me: COME ON EVERYONE, TIME TO GO TO THE LIBRARY! Whoa, Cole, are you wearing that?
Cole: Yes!
Me: Are you wearing underwear under there?
Cole: (checking with uncertainty) Ummm....yes.
Me: (surprised) Oh! Good job, babe. GET IN THE CAR EVERYONE!!!

I don’t know if I have really chilled that much or if I feel more secure because my other three regularly and voluntarily sport fashionably acceptable duds and in my mind that gives Cole a little buffer zone, or what. I just know it is different now. I find myself saying less and less “Let’s just make that a special at home outfit,” and just going with the flow. I have to say though, I may have let the costume slide but I had to put my foot down when he was wearing socks and flip-flops on the way out the door the other day. I may have mellowed, but there are still standards to honor for crying out loud. We’re living in a society here.

On a side note, during this visit to the library Cole was making friends with a little boy (He was working to reach his personal quota of making 6-8 new friends in each place we stop) and I heard him whisper “I’m not really this strong.” That's my little man of integrity. You’d hate to start a friendship under false pretense. Lord knows the pain and disappointment that could have erupted if they were ever to meet up again and he were to realize that Cole’s biceps are actually the diameter of an egg roll.