Chapter 16 - FOOD
Amos hid crackers.
Under pillows.
In toy bins.
Inside a backpack.
Maya told me not to shame him.
We created a snack drawer.
Predictable.
Accessible.
Fruit.
Crackers.
Yogurt.
Not endless candy.
At first he checked it ten times a day.
Then five.
Then once.
At six, he stopped hiding food.
At seven, he attended a birthday party without me.
I worried.
He came home holding cake.
“Saved you some.”
“You ate?”
“Yes.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone make you wait?”
He rolled his eyes.
“Mom.”
Good.
Annoyance is developmental progress.
Later he asked:
“Why did Aunt Eudora care if I ate?”
“She wanted control.”
“Because money?”
“Money was part of why she was afraid.”
“Did money make her mean?”
“No.”
Important.
“She chose what she did.”
He nodded.
“Dad too?”
“Dad chose not to stop her.”
He looked down.
Then:
“He says sorry.”
“I know.”
“Can sorry fix?”
May you like
“Sometimes it helps. It doesn’t erase.”
He understood enough.
