just a little attention

This morning Tim and I met each other for coffee on the way to the daycare. This normally doesn't happen. the baby was awake, alert, and just generally adorable. She made big smiles to the cashier and got a few complements and then we made our way to a table. We hadn't been seated for but a few seconds when a man approached our table and commented on how we certainly had a well loved baby. He went on to say he had seven kids (all fully grown by now) and how he can tell a bright child when he sees one. apparently he also has a ph.d in psychology and can see that our baby is much more alert and intelligent than most children the same age (she's just turned three months.) He complemented her a little more and then went on with his morning. Tim and I had our coffee, I nursed, and we chatted about the morning so far. Baby finished her breakfast and was being burped when another man approached our table.

This man was older than the first, with a hearing aide. He had a nice grandfatherly face, a well trimmed white beard/mustache, a little cap, and a blue sweater. He came to say that he couldn't help but notice our sweet baby. He said he never got along well with his father and was determined, when he became a father himself, to forget everything he had learned from him. He said his father always made parenting seem like such a chore, always finding things to worry about. When he had kids of his own, he said he never could have imagined how much fun he was going to have. When he would arrive home from work the first thing he would do is go find the children to give them a big hello. He said he would see his daughter's face every time and it would be saying 'here's my dad again coming to kiss and hug all over me'. Then he laughed! And Tim and I laughed. And we all said a few more words about how wonderful children are and how sweet our little baby is. The man's last bit of advise was not to find things to worry about and just 'enjoy the damn kid'. With another laugh, and a blessing, he went on his way. Tim and I made our way to the car shortly after and reminisced about the people we'd just met all in the last 20 minutes.I think it's wonderful that we were able to bring so much happiness around with us this morning. That last man, I had noticed while we were in line for coffee. He had been sort of zoning out on us and not hearing the barista asking him for his order. I know that he was lost in good memories of loving his kids and the happiness they brought him. It's really cool that he came up and shared those memories with us. I know that he left and went about his day thinking fondly of his daughter and the sweetness of his experiences with her as a baby.

Just a really great start to the day.