The Forrest

FRD joined us in Florida on the afternoon of July 10. He flew to Florida with Becky and Terry and River. In one of the more surreal moments of my life, I stood at our beach house, doing a FRD transfer. Becky, enthusiastic about her first trip to the beach, whipped out the point and shoot. She huddled FRD and River next to the car and then in a surprising twist, she encouraged me to join in the photo. “You know, I don’t think we have you in any of our pictures. We really should.”

And then they were off. Well, not really off. In fact they only went about two miles down the beach. Yes, Becky decided to have her family vacation just down the beach from my family vacation. At the exact same time as my family vacation. FRD stayed with her upon arrival and then for three more days at the end. He spent Monday through Friday with us. At one point, he asked me, “Why does my mom act like she likes you now?” As always, this type of deep probing question requires a reflective, well thought out answer. So, instead of shrugging both my shoulders at the same time, I shrugged one shoulder and then the other shoulder. He may be thinking about that for weeks.

We all loved the time with FRD. He is truly a changed character. He talked with Grandpa David at length about where salt comes from and went to see Pirates of the Caribbean with Grandma Ellen. Of course, Mother Nature decided that I hadn’t done enough parenting recently, so she blighted him with strep throat and he spent two days in bed.

We also gave him lots of practice for the upcoming arrival of Baby DeFelice. Teenage Aerin advised, “Pretend you don’t smell the stinky diapers so you don’t have to change them.” Seriously, FRD was incredible with Baby Rachel. She named him Fooshky and called out to him every time he left the room. The more time he spent with her, the more palpable his excitement for being a big brother became.

It was so wonderful for me to have this time with FRD. At the same time that I realize how fabulous he’s doing where he is and how it is the right place for him, I’m also far enough away from parenting that I’ve forgotten most of the struggles and long for the good times. I fondly remember when it was just the two of us and we would trek back and forth up and down Fess Street from home to school to home and back again.