Mornings with John

It is Wednesday, 8 AM. James and Maggie left half an hour ago with the carpool for school. John, as he occasionally does, slept in through the noise of the big kids getting ready, and has just stumbled out of bed.

He stands at the top of the stairs for a few moments, staring sleepily. He often does this on waking, as if in these first quiet moments of the day, he would prefer to have the world come acknowledge him than for him to have to go engage the world. I don't mind, as this is a sign that he will be amenable to snuggling, which is getting more rare.

I hug John tightly and carry him down to the kitchen to sit on my lap. He rests contentedly for a minute. Then, over my shoulder, he spies the table and what it holds. "Mommy, I want to go eat that cereal." Suddenly, he is fully awake.

"That cereal" is the what remains in the bowl that James had to leave behind when carpool arrived. I give John a look and he giggles. He and I both know that he would rather eat James's or Maggie's leftover cereal than his own new bowl, anyday. Perhaps it is his innate personality - the independent streak, the boy who wants to make his own way in the world. Perhaps it is the 3rd child personality - he is used to taking what he can get when he can get it. Perhaps he just likes the connection to his older siblings, whom we misses while they are away all day.

Whatever the reason, there is no surer way to get him to eat a good breakfast. He wolfs down half a bowl of corn chex (which he would never ask for or eat on his own), then is grinning and ready to start the day.