we'll always have the moon

Last year, Santa brought Ash a telescope. We have used it as often as possible to explore the nighttime sky. Ash loves every second. This past summer, late in the season, we had a night where the moon was literally ENORMOUS! I don't know much about the phases of the moon (I should probably learn more...) but the moon looked like you could actually reach up and touch it in the night sky. We couldn't resist setting up the telescope on the back deck and literally seeing what we could see. Ash and Brandon spent some time outside focusing the telescope before Maddox and I heard hoops and hollars calling us out to see an up close view of the moon. To be totally honest, in the past, when Ash was fascinated by the sight inside his telescope and than I looked in I could hardly tell what we were looking at. Of course, I would act awed and in as much love with space as my oldest son but never really "felt" anything. This time, though, was very different. When I bent down to peek through the telescope viewer I was truly in shock at how clear and close the moon was! We could LITERALLY SEE the craters of the moon. The landscape, the bumps, the rocky surface...we could see it ALL!!!! I finally felt like I was seeing what Ash had been seeing over the last year. Sure, it took a more literal and dramatic view for me while Ash sees the beauty in the smallest of details but I felt more connected to him on this night. Instead of putting on a happy "mom smile" and patting Ash on the back proud that HE loved space, I was loving it with him. There is nothing in this world better than connecting with your child over something they love. Not something you have taught them to love or something you have forced them to love (parents, you understand) but something they have chosen to love for themselves. Instead of me teaching him, Ash taught me this time. He shared his love with me and I am grateful.