Chocolate Milk

I have a daughter who lives in Texas, and I'm in Idaho. She has two of my precious grandbabies there in Texas with her. Tessa, 4 years old and Cole a year and a half. A few times a year I get to actually spend some time with this family, not just phone calls and webcam. I went to visit them awhile back, when my grandson was starting to talk, with his small and selective vocabulary. He was also teething, big time, molars. The usually happy, carefree, sweet boy being racked by painful gums, was overly sensitive and tearful. Understandably, he wanted and preferred his mom in his moments of sadness and discomfort. Often my efforts to ease his pain, bring a smile, or hold him were met with sobbing resistance.

On the last day of my visit the family took me to lunch. My daughter and son-in-law ordered sandwiches and chips to share with the little ones. I ordered a kids meal for myself, which came with a choice of beverage, one of the choices was chocolate milk. Of course I chose chocolate milk; I love it and only seem to get it on special occasions. This was a special occasion.

After settling in at the table and the food dispersed, I offered a sip of my chocolate milk to Tessa, who I knew would enjoy it. Cole seemed interested. I offered him a taste, not knowing what reaction I would get. The offering accepted, his eyes lit up as he savored the sweet treat. I continued to share my chocolate milk between the children. And then it happened. Tessa was having a sip, and Cole wanted to make sure I didn't forget him. “Grandma!” he said. A wave of joy swept across me and my heart melted. Just to make sure I heard him right and it wasn't my imagination, I asked, “Did you hear that?” Smiles coming from around the table indicated that he indeed, called me Grandma for the very first time. Cole knew he had done something grand, and threw in a big toothy grin to sweeten the perfect moment.

We continued to eat our lunch and share the chocolate milk until it was gone. As I discarded the empty cup I was grateful that it had brought us this moment of chocolate bliss. Now every time I see chocolate milk I feel the joy of that moment shared with my precious Texas grandbabies, and I don't feel quite so far away.