The Boy was not himself today. Slight fever, runny nose, rough cough, so we took him to Nana’s and Papa’s for the day. When I stopped by in the afternoon to pick him up, he jumped out of Nana’s lap, squeaked, “Bye Nana!” as he waved, turned to me, and said with obvious relief in his voice, “Home.” That’s not to say he doesn’t love being at Papa’s and Nana’s — he certainly does. But Nana’s and Papa’s is Nana’s and Papa’s, and home is home.

He says the same thing when I pick him up from daycare every day. He’s won the teachers’ heart, with one writing in a thank you note (for cupcakes last week for the teachers — what a mama!), “He really makes my day with his sweet hugs and sometimes unexpected kisses.” Miss J seems to adore him, and he certainly is just a little crazy about her. Still, he sees me coming and says with obvious relief in his voice, “Home.”

What could “home” mean for a two-year-old? We like to attach all these grandiose meanings to such a simple concept. A quick snapshot is all the explanation anyone really needs to such a question.