Say A Lot of Words About That.

Here’s how the “game” goes:

Grady: “Mommy, tell me how much you love me. Say a lot of words about that.”….

Me: “I love you more than all of the trees, all of the raindrops, all of the stars in the universe…”

Grady: “I love you more than all of the blades of grass, the cars, the stars, the planets, infinity! I win!”

This is the game that we play, telling each other that we love each other more than a variety of everyday and universal things. He prides himself in one upping me with how much he loves me-to the point of absurdity. For example, once he told me he loved me more than all of the toilets in the world! “I love you one thousand infinity” is another common winning phrase he uses.

I play along, always losing this war of love words. I smile and quietly accept defeat. I think to myself: How much longer will he want to engage in this playful loving banter with me? Surely there will come a time not too long from now, when saying he loves me is something he does reluctantly or not at all. Will he be embarrassed when reminded of our game? Will this be a silly loving tradition he starts with his own child some day?

I hope that he does remember and continue this ritual with his own child. For when he does, then he will know: When his child says “Daddy, tell me how much you love me, say a lot of words about that,” he will realize that his love for his child, my love for him, is so big that words are inadequate. He will realize that there are never enough words.