really important

Today was weird. Gabriel was off school, and I ended up bringing him and Beatrice to campus with me when I went in to work to stay with a sitter. Mike picked him up early and brought him home, which was a bit tricky, while I picked up Beatrice a little later - and really - actually - the details are so boring. These kinds of things should only fill the heads of the actual parents who choose to take on these specific logistical brain-filling messes, certainly not their friends, nor families, nor readers. Apologies.

The upshot of it all was that Gabriel was bored out of his mind, apparently, while waiting for me to come home and watching his Papa prepare for class. It was torture.

At least this is what he told me, as we piled back into the car shortly after I came home, off again to pick up Frances.

(Wait. Will you indulge me one more boring detail? I had the stomach flu over the weekend. A feverish, bone-shaking, icky, achey, 10 hour nightmare. And then it was gone. But the aftereffects, for me and everyone else, have taken a bit longer to quiet down. Oh my. Don't you feel sorry for me? A little? But - back to my story.)

Gabriel, I said, why didn't you build with Legos or draw or write or practice piano or make something amazing?

I did for awhile, but then I got bored out of my mind.

But you're so good at doing cool things. And I'm really not that exciting anyway.

-pause-

...What are you talking about, Mama?

I just mean I'm not so so much fun. Sometimes I'm just cooking dinner or reading. You know? You guys can have a great time without me.

...Mama. You're the best person in the world! How can you even say that? Everyone loves you so much! You're really important. You are.

Well, I...

Seriously, Mama. You should be proud of yourself.

Wow. That was about it. I should be proud. I just smiled at him in the rear view mirror and thanked him, and then he started making Beatrice laugh, or she made him laugh, and we picked up Frances and the girls who live next door at their school and the day just kept barreling on.

I don't think I was trying to sell myself short with Gabriel. I think I was trying to get off the hook. Sometimes I would rather not be so important (like when ill) and sometimes I would like everyone to need and want me a little less. But somehow being the best person in the world is part of the deal, an inescapable responsibility and a boundless blessing. We are tied together, quite firmly. We are, all of us, really important. What a mysterious force a family is!