1-on-1 Time.....

I've always been a firm believer in one-on-one time with our kids. In our family, with four kids, it's really important for each of them to spend quality time alone with me or my husband.  It's amazing how different each child is when it's just them. There's always more conversation and better insight into their little hearts and minds.

This morning, I had a few errands to run and Buckley wanted to come along. Buck is one of those kids who just blossoms and comes alive when it's just you and him. Some people find Buck to be quiet and in big crowds, this can be true.  But get him all by himself and it's an endless, one way conversation that always makes me smile as I listen.

So today, as I'm driving, Buck tells me that since he's 10 now, he's really a "young adult".  

"How do you figure?" I ask him.

"Well, when a kid is 7, 8 and 9 they're just a child. Then, when they're 10, 11 and 12 they're a young adult. At 13 - 17 they are a teenager and at 18 they're officially an adult."  He tells me, very matter of factly.

"Don't you think young adult would come after teenager?" I ask.

"Nope. This is the order." He tells me, quite assuredly. 

"Okay, honey. Whatever you say," as I look over at my sweet little boy and smile.

About an hour later, we were walking through Sam's Club and Buck was immediately drawn to all the Toy Story advertisements, toys and books scattered about. Having just seen Toy Story 3, Buzz Lightyear was ever present in his mind. "Mom, I need a new Buzz Lightyear."

"You had a Buzz Lightyear when you were little, honey. Remember when we decided you had outgrown it and we could give it away?" I reminded him.

Still, he went on and on about how he needed another Buzz Lightyear.  

I could not resist. "How many young adults do think play with Buzz Lightyear dolls?" I ask, barely able to keep a straight face.

He stopped and got a funny look on his face, as if he just realized my point.  "I'm not going to play with it, mom. I'm just going to put in on my dresser and look at it."

We both got a good laugh out of today's 1-on-1 time.