We’re at the dinner table. I’m not eating yet as I’m not hungry and didn’t feel like cooking. Thor’s not home yet as he stayed at the office to finish up a client deliverable. Quinn is enoying every American four year old’s dinner of choice — mac & cheese, chicken nuggets, peas & corn and grapes. It’s my cop-out dinner. In addition to copping out on dinner, I’m also breaking one of my own rules and sitting at the table with my laptop open in front of me. This means I’m typing as he’s eating.

Quinn whines, “Who can talk to me?”

I answer, not looking up from my laptop and feeling guilty as I say it, “It’s time for eating, not talking.”

“Well, we can talk a little bit.” He wisely replied.

I stopped typing and looked up, “You’re right, Quinn.”

“How was your day today, Mommy?” he asked

“Thanks for asking, Quinn. It was good.” I answered, feeling like a heel for having attempted to work rather than enjoying some dinner conversation with my son.

“Now you ask me how my day was,” he instructed. Mind you, we’d already had that conversation in the car on the ride home from school, but I obliged.

“How was your day, Quinn?”

“Good,” he answered and then asked, “what you do today?”

“Oh, I just worked at the office.” I answered.

“Was Jonfun there?” he asked with a smile. “And Michael?” still smiling.

“Yes, Jonathan and Michael were there.”

“Um was…..” he looked up at the ceiling, thinking…. “waszzzzz… Maggie there?” he asked, proud that he had recalled another name. Plus he LOVES Maggie because she has the same name as “Maggie and The Ferocious Beast.”

“Yes, Maggie was there,” I answered.

“Waszzz…. Um, the one with the magic coin was there?” He asked, smiling again.

“Yes, Scott was there.” Last time Quinn visited the office Scott made some quarters disappear. This has apparently left a lasting impression.

“Ummmmm, waszzz….. Who the other guy who works there?” he asked.

“Well, there’s Ted AND Cameron,” I replied, figuring he’s melded them into one blonde TedCam in his head.

“Yes,” he smiled again, “Ted and Camren were there?”

“Yep, Ted and Cameron were there. As well as Will – you know, who works with Michael.”

“Who else was there?” he wanted to know.

“Well, Paul and Amanda. And a bunch of other people.”

He sat for a minute, smiling as if he was imagining my whole day in his head.

Then he walked over to me, climbed up in my lap and said, “I love you, Mommy. I want to keep you forever.”