Charlie thinks of it as "the potty book", but to Jason and me it is one of the creepiest books ever written. Most of you parents with young children in the last couple decades know the one, "I love you forever, I like you for always, etc etc."
Don't get me wrong, it starts out really sweet with a mom rocking her sweet infant and still loving him just as much when he terrorizes the bathroom (aka Charlie's favorite part).
I'm sure many parents find the subsequent scenes just as endearing, but from our first reading Jason and I just couldn't help but shudder at the thought of either of our moms hauling a ladder across town (or across the country in our cases), climbing in through our window and rocking one of us in our sleep.
Seriously, my mom is one of my three favorite people in the whole wide world, but if she showed up in my bedroom in the middle of the night I would probably have her committed -- no telling what Jason would do if he woke out of a deep sleep to find her there.
So as loving parents, we consistently hid this book, and I think it might have permanently "gone missing" at some point -- it was just too weird for us -- but last week en route home from Kansas City (and yes, I do plan to eventually post pictures) I had a shocking realization.
Charlie zonked towards the end of our first flight, so I carried him off the plane and since my shoulders are so much narrower than Daddy's, he's only comfortable if I carry him lying across my arms like a baby.
As we were walking up the jetway I joked to Jason that if he'll let me, I'll still carry him this way when he's 17. Jason just rolled his eyes, and the image of the little gray haired woman in the book rocking her grown son came to mind (and as white hairs have started appearing this summer, was all too real!)
I am the creepy old lady!
And yes, I do still find it creepy, but I have a feeling that given the opportunity I would be overjoyed to rock my 43 year old baby in my arms when I'm in my mid 70s. Hopefully I will stop short of climbing through his bedroom window... (and yes, I believe this would be an appropriate time for everyone to say a prayer for patience, grace and love for my future daughter-in-law).
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
