There are two magical moments when picking up the kids from school. I was reminded of this on Thursday when I picked Liam up.
The first happens when he walks out of the school but before he notices you waiting in the car. For a second, I get to watch him in his natural environment. It is ‘at school Liam’ with his teenage guard up and chatting with his friends. I see how he holds himself and how he walks like a young man instead of a little boy. It doesn’t last long, but it is the moment when I can see him for who he is becoming.
The second moment is when he sees you. His face lights up but in a reserved way that the untrained eye of an outsider might not recognize. It is a smile that is secret and known only to the 4 of us. It reminds me of how it felt when he giggled with his whole body and kicked his baby legs when he got excited. It makes me feel like I am still the most important in his life. Still his safe space.
Then he gets in the car and either wants me to buy him something or talk about something I don’t understand. But oh, those miraculous moments right before 😉