• Make some hot chocolate. Nothing fancy for the kid invited to your party. Maybe something fancy for you. I made myself a pumpkin flavored hot chocolate. Now, that is fancy.
• Let the child pick out a mug and maybe even a straw.

• Listen to your other child try to crash the party and say “mah mah mah mah” incessantly in an effort to take over other child’s hot chocolate. Use distraction when neccessary.

• Tell the child he has to sit with you and talk about things he likes, loves, or appreciates about the people in our family.
• Let go of all expectations of having some significant mother-son moment since the aforementioned instruction results in giggles, sillyness, and saying things like he likes his brother’s toys but his brother is mean and doesn’t let him in his room and he likes Disney World and Mickey Mouse and watching shows….and he just wants to drink his hot chocolate without having to talk to me. 

“Mama, I not ever stop loving you.

I see you; I love you.

I see you; I love you.

I see you; I love you.

I not see you; I cry.”