My Buddy

Jacob is with us every other week, so every other week, Jacob, Eli, and I pile in the car for "carpool."

Now technically it isn't "carpool" since it's just us, but it's easier to say "carpool" than "taking Jacob to school and picking Jacob up from school." I hope you don't mind!

So, "carpool." We get up, get showered, get dressed, get breakfast, get teeth brushed, get hair brushed, and get out the door. With the boys loaded up in the car, we're off. In the beginning, Eli slept through both carpools. Now that he's getting older that's just not the case.

In the morning, Eli happily watches his big brother as Jacob does his 20 minutes of assigned reading. Jacob occasionally passes him a book or a toy and they are happy as clams in the backseat. That is until we actually get to school.

We pull up in the carpool line and it's our turn. Jacob unbuckles and gathers his things, I open the automatic van door, and Eli begins to cry. Let me rephrase that...Eli begins to WAIL!! Jacob says good-bye, I attempt to wish him a good day and send our love over the squall, and Eli continues his lamenting.

He continues for the next oh...5-10 minutes. Friends, that is some major sadness--sibling sorrow, if you will!

Finally, with much singing and pep-talking, Eli recovers and manages to make it through the rest of his day without his partner-in-crime.

Later, we load up once again and head off for "carpool."

We pull up at the school and wait for our turn. At last, we arrive at the front of the school, I open the door, and Jacob steps in. Immediately, there are smiles and laughter and silly noises and all kinds of fun going on in the backseat! Good has returned to the world! And watching it all unfold in my rearview mirror, I have to agree!