Buddies

Today was a hard day for my three year old son Zac. This is the first day that he will be at pre-school without his best buddy Coop. Coop's dad is a football coach and he has taken a coaching job on the other side of the country and so, on Saturday night, we all said very tearful goodbyes and my son said farewell to his best buddy.

This morning, on the way to pre-school, Zac said to me through tears, "Daddy, I'm not going to have a best buddy anymore." I was overwhelmed by his feeling of loneliness and amazed at a three year olds capacity for such sadness. I did the best thing I knew to do and took him to get chocolate milk and a bagel (which is the closest thing to "having a beer" for a three year old) and told him that I would be his buddy today. He accepted my feeble substitution...at least for this morning.

It is remarkable to think that two three year olds could have such a strong bond. Zac and Coop were together almost everyday of every week for about the last year and a half. They are pretty much the blond-haired and black-haired version of the same kid.....inseparable. They fight from time to time and even after leaving on bad terms or in a fight, within hours, they are always ready to get together and play again. It is sad indeed to see such a great friendship seperated by such distance. They will see each other from time to time and will remain friends but the reality is that it is very hard to stay best buddies when you live in two seperate parts of the country.

Zac, I am so sorry that your best friend had to move away. I do hope, though, that you will not grow up and forget how to have a best buddy because a lot of boys grow up and become men and somehow they don't know how to have a best buddy anymore. You'll always need best friends and you'll always need to know how to be a best friend. Thanks for reminding your dad what it looks like to have a best buddy.