Cheese

Today was picture day for the Rooster.

Now, my son is beautiful to me, so I have no idea what he objectively looks like - I just adore that child.

However, LAUSD notoriously finds mug shot photographers to take yearbook photos, forcing you to prepay before they set up their 1970s cheese parades of backgrounds and flash emergency lights into the eyes of your offspring, and we never get a shot that is anything less than terrifying. I have long since stopped buying these travesties, and I guess my boy has picked up on our less than enthusiasm for his annual forced grins.

He came to me last night and said, "Mommy, I have a bad smile, what am I going to do???"

Well, we assured him, of course, that his smile is gorgeous whenever he smiles with us, and if he wanted to really like his photo this year, he should just enjoy having his picture taken and think of something that makes him really happy.

At bed time, my husband asked, "How did picture day go, son?"

"Good," he said. "I just thought about Brenda* and smiled and felt happy and that was it."

*Brenda (not her real name) is a girl in Rooster's class. She is new this year, NT, and nervous when she arrived. My son enthusiastically welcomed her and gave her a tour of the school.

Her parents like us.

Did you hear that?

I might need to say it again, as it just trips joyfully off the keyboard. A first!!!!

Her. Parents. Like. Us. We have had a play date. So far, they STILL like us.

How is all of that for self awareness, social engagement, empathy, and progress?

Yeah, I have a pretty good smile going right now too.