Of mothers and sons

The other night, when we were out for Anne's birthday, Libby was expressing some worry about having a boy. She has Scarlett, who is nothing but scrumptious, and a boy on the way. I get that worry—it's a journey into the unknown. I had some major apprehension when I was pregnant with Shep.

But today, when Shep was walking around with Tom's ski goggles on, and stopped what he was doing to pose for a few photos, I had one of those moments. One of those moments that mothers have with sons. When they look you in the eye, and you know, that for this space of time, his heart belongs to you. He thinks you are the most wonderful woman in the world.

I know this adoration has a time span. There will be a time in the not-so-distant future where his heart will belong to someone else, and I'll have to get comfortable in my role as the runner-up.

I don't want this to sound like I love him more than the girls, because I love them all the same. With a girl there is a closeness and intimacy you have with your best girlfriends. With a boy, there is this purity and innocence.

Please let me get be a good mother-in-law, because now I totally get why that's one of the hardest jobs on earth.