One-on-one time with my big kids

Since the baby arrived, I've spent a lot of time focused on...the baby. Little ones have a way of doing that to you. Hold me! Feed me! Change me! Play with me! Feed me! Change me! Play peek-a-boo eleventy billion times in a row with me!

I'm still adjusting to this mom-of-three thing, and there are times I feel like nobody is getting the best of me. So every so often, I spend one-on-one time with Max and Sabrina.

For Sabrina, that may involve going to a dance or theater performance but more typically means eating lunch out and shopping for clothing. This is not particularly zen, because we inevitably end up arguing over something super-pricey she wants that she does not need (IMO) except she really does (IHO), but we have fun. This weekend, we had turkey BLTs and she got a pretty blue dress plus a t-shirt that looks like it has clothing pills all over it except it's supposed to look that way, and it seems as if they charged extra for the pilling.

Max's idea of a great time is going for ice-cream, driving to the local fire station, roaming around the mall or seeing a movie. This weekend, we went on a date to see Storks. His favorite theater is one where you can have food served as you sit in big comfy armchair,  but we ended up at a place closer to the house. As soon as we sat down, Max informed me that he preferred the other theater and could we go? Going out with him isn't always so zen, either. Who am I kidding? Parenthood isn't zen.

Max sat back in his seat and watched the previews start, and I marveled at how engaged he was. En route, I'd reminded him how scared he used to be of going to movies at indoor theaters (he was always fine with drive-ins) until he saw Monsters University at the theater in town three years ago and then he was hooked. I like to remind him of how far he's come.

He squealed when the preview for Sing came on (we're both excited to see it). Storks was adorable and had both of us laughing. We were especially amused that the baby in the movie sounded like Ben.

Sometimes I watched Max watching the movie, which is also enjoyable to me. I am grateful that he's reached the point where we can laugh together at a funny movie. Oh, and I am also grateful that he has no interest in seeing LEGO Batman.