By Jayme Sherrod | @jayme.t.sherrod
My son and I blew through 100 popsicles in less than a month.
When I first realized this lovely fact, I was a little queasy thinking about the sheer volume of sugar we had consumed. As I stared at the empty box, I moved to flip it over and assess the nutrition facts, but my heart intervened.
Nearly every day this summer my son and I have been sharing these popsicles on the front porch while his sister naps. Just after noon, as my daughter slips into her second stage of sleep, the sun creeps toward the backyard providing just enough shade on the front porch for us to sit and only have our toes exposed to the sunlight.
The experience developed the same way every day. As soon as I left my daughter’s room, my son looked at me, wide-eyed with eyebrows raised, and said, “popsicles?” I often responded with a smile and a “just one,” even though I knew we’d each have two.
Some of the popsicles were shared in silence. Others shared amidst what felt like incessant talking. But all were shared between a mom and her son, sitting side by side, right knee to left knee, with no expectation, no little sister to interrupt, and nowhere to be.
I don’t think either of us truly knew the joy of this time together while it was happening, and I’m not sure I would have noticed the joy if we hadn’t plowed through that box of popsicles so quickly. Therein lies the push and pull of motherhood.
If, at the time of purchase, you had told me those 100 popsicles would be gone in a little over 25 days, I may have slid that box right back onto the shelf. In fact, knowing my personality, I’m certain I would have. But that’s not what this was about.
This was about a three-year-old boy unexpectedly falling into a routine with his mom that may never present itself in the same way again. Those 100 popsicles – and hundreds of grams of sugar – translated into hours of quality time with my son. And that’s a trade-off I’m willing to make. Again and again.
As this summer wanes, I suspect this exact opportunity does too.
So did I buy another box of 100 popsicles? You bet I did.
Jayme Sherrod | @jayme.t.sherrod
Jayme (pictured on the right) and her wife Amanda live in a suburb just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, with their son and daughter. Before her motherhood journey began in 2018, Jayme worked as a Registered Nurse and has since transitioned to being a full-time stay-at-home mom of two kiddos and three fur babies. When able, she loves baking, hiking, and sipping (hot!) coffee on the porch – no matter the time of year.
