Something's Missing

I have no idea why this picture is funky.  I promise my childrens' faces don't normally look like that.

Since yesterday afternoon my oldest has been in a mood.  One could say that it's normal 11-year-old boy mood, but this is not the case.  Problem is, child #2 left to stay at a friend's house.  The oldest didn't throw a fit like the 3-year-old who wanted to go with, he didn't sigh like the sweet girl who was on the couch, running a fever, and he didn't hide in my arms like the youngest.

Poor Aidan is lost.  What to do, what to do.  Mope, mope, mope.  Whine, whine, whine.  As annoying as it is hearing the complaints and the whine, I feel for the kid.  Both of his playmates are unavailable.  He played, "Violet, Dad, and Mim" as long as he could, but in the end he wanted Emma and Gigi to chum with like usual.  There are adventures to be had that have had to wait. 

It was endearing to hear his prayer of "not taking anyone for granted" and I couldn't help but smile to see that he knew what was missing.  One of his dearest friends.  My children don't always get along.  A few naturally connect and a couple naturally clash.  But, we've tried to instill in all of them that these people they are growing with are, and will always be their best friends.