My parents called tonight and invited the family out dinner at a pizza joint near their place. After dinner we decided to go over an hang out at my parent’s house for a bit. So as we are packing the kids into the car my daughter decides she’s not going into the car. After the 5 billionth time of patiently asking her to get in, I decided to use one of my rarely used methods and I let her “win”. I said, “Fine, I will leave you here and the rest of us will go to Grandma and Grandpa’s.” I know I can hear those of you that think I am going to cause some irreversible physiological damage related to separation anxiety. All I have to say is that you should try getting her in the car. :P

Anyway, the physiological conditioning of my daughter is not the point. As I started putting things into the driver’s seat and feigning my departure, my son says, “We can’t leave Tracy. I love her too much and we can never leave her.” It was sweet and true.