Today Erin and Laur went to a party at the house of one of Erin's school friends while I was at work. In fact, I actually got home from work before they returned from the party. So when they did eventually arrive at home, I was relaxing and reading the newspaper. The first thing I noticed was that Ein's mood seemed a little unusual. She was a little somber and mopey. At first, I attributed it to her being tired from a busy day, but the more I attempted to speak to her, the more it seemed to me that she was a little sad, perhaps from leaving the party, perhaps from being faced with the realization that none of the children from the party will be in her school this year. Whatever the reason, she definitely seemed down.
By this time, Erin was sitting on the couch in the living room and had wrapped herself in NY Jets blanket that is always folded on the back of the couch. Laureen had gone downstairs to the basement to throw in a load of wash, and I went into the kitchen to get some water for myself and Erin. By the time I returned to the living room, Erin had turned on her Kids Bop CD, and was back on the couch wrapped in the Jets blanket. I came in the living room and kneeled next to her on the floor, so that we were eye to eye.
"Erin, is everything OK?" I asked her. She just stared at me blankly with those sad little eyes. Mildly discouraged but still determined, I tried again.
"Erin, are you feeling sad about something?" She met my question with that same expressionless, almost zombie-like gaze.
"Erin... you know you can tell me and Mommy anything, right? If you're feeling sad about something, or angry, or whatever... you can tell us what's on your mind. You know that, right? So, are you sad about something... maybe having to leave the party and your friends today?"
She gave me nothing in response... I might as well have been talking to myself. Shrugging my shoulders, I decided I'd give it one more try and then just let it be.
"Hey Erin..."
That was as far as I got with my question, because Erin suddenly sat forward so that we were much closer together, and she put her finger to her lips in the universal symbol for be quiet. This was accompanied by a loud and protracted SHUSHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Dadoo! Can't you see, I'm TRYING to hear my SONGS!!"
And there she was. The Erin that I know and love. I guess she was feeling like herself after all.
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