The joy of the only child- not just for only children

With my oldest daughter away at sleep-over camp, I am having the delicious experience of solo-time with my younger son. Just the two of us. Reading. Playing. Watching movies. Wandering around outside. Giggling. Answering his stream of questions/needs without the competing stream of sister's questions/needs. Not having to "tag" along to big sister's events; having important events of his own.

Things are so simple with one child. Unfettered. Direct. One set of needs, one set of snacks, one focus of my attention. In many ways, I feel that second (or more) children get the shorter end of the stick in terms of parental attention. The stick is lengthened by the love and attention of siblings, but still. It is easy to confuse frustration with a younger child with frustration at having to meet the needs of two children. It is easy to be annoyed with the younger child, especially in comparison to an older sibling who is on the cusp of independence.

These three weeks that we have together, alone, are simply magic. I've fallen in love with my son all over again- his sweet face and ancient eyes, his fierce commitment to justice and fairness, the way his mouth twitches into a smile as he comprehends a subtle bit of humor. I am back into all the blissful bits of mothering. Instead of just the work.