And early sign we're doing something right

Dan’s in Atlanta this week (or "Lanta," as Cole says), and Cole’s been a little more difficult with his Dada gone. Last night it was all I could do to get him across the street to have dinner with my friend and her 2 little girls. He showed up with no shoes on, only one sock, and tears all over his face after a temper tantrum in the car. I was worried about what the rest of the week has in store until Dada comes home.

Fortunately, Cole perked right up when he got around his little girlfriends.

I don’t know if he knew I was nervous and wanted to reassure me, or if he just wanted a free pass for more difficult behavior later, but my little man really poured on the charm as I was sitting at the table with all the kids and Michelle was passing out strawberries for dessert:

First Cole got his plate full of berries and requested a fork, which Michelle dutifully gave him. Then I got my plate full of berries and began eating them with my fingers.

"Mama need fork."

"Thank you, sweetie, but I’m okay using my fingers."

Cole put down his own fork, got up from the table and walked all the way over to the drawer where Michelle keeps her utensils. He looked up at Michelle who handed him a grown-up sized fork. Then my considerate little chivalrous man brought the fork right over to me at the table, just like a short little waiter and proudly said, "Mama fork," with the sweetest smile.

I don’t know if it was the relief at that moment that the tantrums were apparently over for the night, or the sheer sweetness of the gesture, or the realization that my little man was worrying about his mama, but my eyes welled up with tears. Those were the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever eaten. Moments like that are what it’s all about.

As Mastercard would say:

Strawberries: $4.00

Fork: $4.00

Realizing your little man is looking out for his Mama: PRICELESS