My first test

I had my first “test” tonight for answering the dreaded question.  I am traveling back to Omaha from a visit to my aunt and uncle’s in Virginia.  My flight connected through Chicago (Midway, not O’Hare, thank goodness!) and once I landed I got some dinner and found a comfy spot to hang out and charge my phone.  While I was sitting there, two young girls were wandering back and forth by my chair.  One of the little girls stopped and peeked at my iPad, which of course has a picture of Henry on it.  Her mom apologized for the little girl bothering me, and I replied that it was no bother.  She asked if I had a baby, having seen the picture of Henry.  I answered honestly, and told her that he passed away in November from cancer, and then held the iPad up so she could see.  She told me how sorry she was to hear that, but smiled as she saw Henry and said what a beautiful baby he was.  And as she and her family headed off to their next destination, she gave me another smile.

It was nice to be able to share Henry, even with a stranger.  And it wasn’t nearly as awkward or as uncomfortable as I sometimes build it up to be.  Of course, every interaction will be different.  I think that’s what I’m trying to “train” myself for…to be comfortable sharing my boys without expectation of any given reaction.  And tonight I did just that.

Here is the picture that is on my iPad, that caught the attention of this little girl and her kind mama.  Thank you to these strangers who took a moment to share Henry!