Explanations

“I wish I could see my daddy every day.” Bubba said thoughtfully over his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I felt my heart clench. Was I doing something wrong?

“Do you not want to be with me?” I asked. That sounded needy. I rephrased.
“Aren’t you having fun with me?”

“Yes. I want to see my momma every day.”

I pondered his statement.

“Do you not like Doppleganger?” I asked, referring to my ex-husband’s new girlfriend who bore a striking resemblance to me.

“I like her.” He answered simply. But then again, that told me nothing.
Bubba is three and he is so sweet he’d like Jack the Ripper.

“Is she nice or mean?” I pressed.

“She’s nice.” He responded.

So what was his statement about? I wondered if he was jealous of having to share his father’s attention with Doppleganger’s son, NK. “Do you not want to live with Dopple and NK?” I asked.

“No. I want to live with Daddy and Momma.” He said. “I can visit Dopple and NK and Excitement. They can live in History-home and Daddy and Mommy and Bubba can live in Sea-Side House.”

Such innocence.

“Come here,” I said, stretching my arms out to him. “I want to talk to you.”

He knew his cue. I’d learned from Nanny 911 to hold him at eye level and talk softly with him when I wanted him to absorb what I was saying. It worked wonders and he loved our “talks”.

“Mommy and Daddy used to live together but when we spent too much time together we fight. Do you remember that?”

“Yes.” He said, as enthralled as if I was telling him a bedtime story.