There's a Baby on the Bus

The universe made a huge mistake yesterday and a school bus in my town drove away with a baby on board- no parent with him, no one to watch over, no one to make sure he was safe and happy, no one to take care that he wasn't scared or picked on or lost, and not a soul there who knew by heart his fears, his favorite things or the way he needs to be soothed when he cries. His mother wasn't with him to help him and hold him tightly to make sure nothing dangerous touched him. He had to navigate a new place on his own. Find his way. But no one noticed how huge this mistake was- no one yelled "Stop! He's just a baby! He can't do this on his own!" except his mother's poor heart as the bus carried him farther away.

Six long and grueling hours later that same unfeeling bus carried the baby back, unharmed, unafraid and having done exactly what he was supposed to do. That baby smiled at his mother and threw himself happily into her arms, joyful at his successful independence, gleefully exclaiming about his new friends, wonder-filled classroom and the unequivocal bliss of exploring a new playground. His eyes shone, his small body hopped and bounced around, unable to contain the excitement of his adventure, not knowing for even the smallest moment that his mother felt a piece of her heart break at the same moment that it glowed warm with a deep and life sustaining pride. He slid his sticky hand into hers, not seeing her conflict, not understanding how, while his world had suddenly burst open with possibilities, hers felt slightly colder and more threatening. But his mother squeezed his little fingers, remembering when they could barely curl around her thumb and she leaned down to touch his baby face- that isn't a baby face at all any more- and told him "I knew you could do it, baby."