Tonight I was putting Sofia to bed and I gave her ten kisses, all over her face, like I used to do every single night. We fell out of the habit once Lily was born. After I gave her the ten kisses I ended with one on her forehead, “for good luck.” Then I said what I always used to say, “I love you to the moon and back, the stars and beyond, and more than that. And more than that, too. And I always, always will.”
She looked at me with a look I’ve never seen on her before. She looked right into my eyes and neither of us spoke.
I said, “What are you thinking about?”
After a moment she said, “I am thinking about how when I am a grown up I will remember everything you ever taught me.”