Feeling like a grown up

When I was younger I recognized that I had pretty hip parents. They had a fantastic group of friends and I remember them all getting together to do things like play cards, probably have a couple drinks and listen to Prairie Home Companion. All of us kids would be in a playroom or basement putting on plays, playing school or whatever until we got tired. Then we would go to sleep on extra couches and mattresses until we were scooped up by our parents and shuttled home where we sleepwalked our way into our pajamas and crawled into bed.

My brother and I had such a full and rich community of adults in our lives and it has always been one of those things I hoped to provide for my children someday. When Will was born, Dan and I made it a goal to involve him with our friends as much as possible. This weekend, on two separate occasions, I saw that we might be succeeding at this.

On Saturday, Will and I met up with Kari and Andrew at the Farmer’s market downtown. If you ever come to visit me while this is going on, we have to make this a priority. It is such a wonderful market, filled with produce and wine and cheese and chocolates and seafood. There is also live music and a TON of kids. Will was in heaven. Not only did he get his very first real chocolate chip cookie (which took him almost an hour to eat because he was savoring it so)...






...but he also got to spend time with Kari and Andrew (who he adores!) and put in some serious people watching time (one of his favorite activities). It was one of those perfect spring mornings, a warm sun but still a bite to the air. We pushed Little Man around in his new stroller and he even fell asleep in it…which he has never done before!



Sunday we met with a Sarah, Dave, Kari, Andrew, Becca and Nicole and had breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast places. It was such fun to watch Will flirt with Becca and Nicole and sit on his beloved godmother’s lap and ask her to read him a book.



The thing that struck me most was not only how comfortable our friends have gotten with the addition of this little person, but how comfortable he is with them. Being able to actually see him feel safe within this full, rich, amazing community of adults made me feel incredibly lucky…and a little like my own hip parents.