Adventures in Parenting

X Cupcakes X

"Mama, Mama!" Shiro shouted as soon as he saw her Monday afternoon. "Guess what!"

Kagome laughed and caught him as he jumped into her arms, spinning him around. She set him back down with a kiss to his cheek and took up his hand. "What?" she asked as they walked outside and down the sidewalk to the bus stop.

"Casey's mom brought cupcakes to school for his birthday today! The whole class got one during snack time!" he exclaimed with a hop and wave of his free arm for emphasis.

Kagome had to force a smile down at her son. "Oh, really? That sounds so… fun."

"It was!" he crowed, swinging his legs on the bench with a wide grin. "My teacher even let us stay in for recess and play a birthday game that his mom brought! It was like a birthday party at school!" His eyes grew wide and he whispered in awe, "He's so lucky…!"

Kagome winced and looked down the street, anxious for the bus to come so they could get home and she could distract him from Casey's birthday at school and his lack of one from a week and a half ago. Maybe if she let him eat dinner in front of the TV, he'd forget about what happened at school that day…

"Hey, Mama?" Shiro looked up from playing with his Power Ranger action figure.

"Yeah, sweetie?" Where was that bus?

"I liked my birthday a lot more."

Kagome was frozen in shock for a few moments. What the heck?! What was that supposed to mean? When she was a kid, the big birthday parties were always the best ones! What was her son thinking?

"Casey was upset most of the time his mama was there," Shiro continued to explain, playing with his red Power Ranger again. "He wasn't having fun at all. We had lots of fun on my birthday. I don't want you to bring me cupcakes on my birthday."

Shiro grimaced at the thought of being unhappy on his birthday as a result of her bringing cupcakes and games for the class. Kagome simply laughed at his six-year-old logic. Only her son would think that Casey's situation was undesirable. 'If only he'd stay that way as he gets older…' she thought sadly as the bus arrived to take them home.

This'll probably be one of the last updates for a while. Maybe. It depends. I have some stuff to do for one of my classes over the next few days before I go back. I'm so excited! One of my best friends is coming over and we're making dinner tonight for my family. It's going to be so fun! – Hope