Changes

July 11, 2024

I’ve been thinking about a toddler running into the arms of his daddy a lot lately. Wondering if the boy and mama were returning from daycare, or if dad had just returned from some overseas trip, or… any number of things. I imagine to a toddler a few hours vs. a few days is indiscernable. It could have been less than an hour and the little boys brain might have been, oh my god, it’s my other big human! Big feelings in a little guy.

My dog is never that excited when I return from a trip. He’s only ever that excited when he sees me walking from the kitchen to his food bowl. And then he forgets I exist until he decides he needs to poo.

That toddler also has me thinking about big feelings and what that was once like. Remember when you were young and everything felt so fucking urgent? The absolute certainty that you were right about whatever it was you were arguing with your parents; the firm knowledge that they could not possibly understand you because they’re old and out of touch. The cla…