When the stars align

We have three kids, and this week, the eldest and the youngest will be at camp, with, by coincidence, one night crossing over. Leaving the middle child at home alone with us.

This is a rare, rare thing for the middle child. He usually has to fall in around the plans of others, rarely getting undivided attention. 

So we have declared this 'Night of Didier' (Not his name but if I'm making up names I may as well make up something exotic). We have spent weeks discussing the pending celebratory night, and what we should do with it. Sushi train and a movie (we can no longer go to sushi train as it bankrupts us if all five of us are dining), bowling and dinner somewhere special, something else entirely? The options are pretty limitless at this stage, and thus nothing has been decided as yet.

I have already turned down 2 invitations to events, as it is Night of Didier, and I must attend!

It's sweet how much he is looking forward to it, and that in itself is a reminder of what a dud deal the middle child gets at times. I keep thinking I must make sure this happens a little more often, so we get the freedom to talk that one on one time together offers. At the moment it's usually just once a week when I drive him to an after school activity, while the other two are already at their own activities. A brief fifteen minutes, once every seven days. 

He doesn't complain but I know he's so excited to have his own room for the night, and to have us to himself. He even asked if I could drive him to school in the morning, as I won't have to drop off our youngest to hers. He is perfectly happy getting the bus, and on occasion his dad will drive him and the eldest if it is raining, but he actually just wants the car trip with me. I was so touched when he asked. A teen now, but there's still hints of the young boy he was still in there. A reminder again that I must make more effort before he vanishes completely into the moody, independent teen that would rather arrive sodden than be seen in the car with his mum.

These moments are fleeting and yet so special. I will treasure it more than him, I suspect. So the planning continues until the night of celebration begins.

What would you do?

Do you have a regular one-on-one with each child? 

Does your middle child miss out?

Lnking with #FortheloveofBLOG and read what we did on the Night of Didi here