The Optimist

One day, about a month ago, we played with a boy named Ben. Katie did not come back from the playdate feeling too positive about Ben because Ben was going through a phase where he didn't share. I explained to Katie that all kids seem to go through this phase and she, herself, had a very bad time last summer with this very issue.

Last week, I suggested that we make another playdate with Ben. "That's a great idea Mommy. Maybe Ben will be nice this time. Maybe he'll share."

I think Katie is just an optimist. I don't know how or why (and why question such good fortune?), but Katie thinks that everything new is exciting and will be fun. And everything is her favorite. Tonight, I made fajitas for dinner. "Fajitas- my favorite!" Katie has such an amazing joie de vivre that it's really inspiring. In some ways, Katie's joy in living everyday is enviable too. I wish I could be that excited to put sprinkles on cupcakes or make up a new dance. But I think it's one of the reasons we have kids, to remember the pleasures of the little things in life.

For Mother's Day, we took Katie to the Aquarium on Coney Island. ("We went all the way to Brooklyn!" she reported). We walked on the boardwalk and went to Nathan's so Peter could get an original hot dog (Katie and I had chicken fingers). We saw the ocean (but too cold and windy to go on the beach). We went to the NY Aquarium and saw the fish and the walruses and the otters and the various jelly fish. Katie loved the show with the sea lion. And then we met the rest of my extended family for dinner in NJ, my parents, my sisters and brother-in-law, nephews, and my niece Robin. "Barbeque - my favorite! Coleslaw - my favorite! Brisket - my favorite!"

Driving back to the city, I asked Katie what she liked best about the day. My optimistic daughter who finds fun in the little things said "Going potty with Robin."

The Coney Island Boardwalk

The NY Aquarium - very different from when I was last there in 1982!