See You Soon or in the Moon

This morning I was feeling a little bit funny sad.  My teeth were biting my gums and my tummy clock was changing and acting different.  Before my nap, I needed extra cuddle-hugs, so daddy wrapped me up and told me a story.

Once upon a time, a boy named Arik told his moomy and daddy that he wanted to sail around the world.  

"I know I'm just a boy," he explained, "but  I'd like to sail to different lands and meet different people and try different things."

Arik's moomy and daddy felt a little sad that their son was ready to go, but they understood that there are times when people want to stay and times that people need to go.

Arik and his moomy and daddy started to build a boat that would be good for his journey.

His moomy taught him how to work the sail and read maps and his daddy taught him how to read the wind and the stars.

Soon, Arik became very good at doing these things, and showed that he was ready to go. 

The night before he was to set sail, his moomy and daddy came into his room.

"We are very proud of you, Arik and we know that you will have a wonderful adventure, and see and do many amazing things.  There will be times, when the wind will be at your back and the waters will be calm and smooth.  You will glide through the water anywhere you please."

Arik smiled and felt excited about his trip. 

"There will be other times, though, when the wind doesn't come at all, and the waters will be choppy and rough.  You will be fine because you know how to sail and make changes on the boat."

This made Arik feel happy that he learned all of the different ways to sail in all kinds of weather.

"Arik, there will be other times, you will feel lonely because you will be out at sea by yourself.  When you do, we want you to do something for us."

"What should I do?" Arik whispered softly.

He hadn't learned anything about this yet.

"When you are feeling lonely, we want you to look up at the sky, at the moon over your head, and know that your moomy and daddy are looking at the same moon and thinking of you.  Even though we will miss you dearly, we will feel better to know you are looking at the same moon.  When you see that moon, you will feel that we are with you, and we will feel the same."

Even on those stormy nights, when the clouds cover the sky and you can't see the stars.  The moon is still there and so are we.

Arik felt happy and peaceful to hear this.

  

The next morning, before the sun came up, Arik and his moomy and daddy went to the shore.  

"Have a wonderful trip, our son."

They hugged and kissed goodbye and looked up at the sky.

"See you soon, or in the moon," they said.

"See you soon or in the moon," he answered."