Shortly before the fiasco that was my road trip (see previous journal) I was carrying my daughter on my shoulders and she asked me in her 2 year old way, if I had a girlfriend. To which I replied with a quiet 'no.' She then asked me if Mommy was my girlfriend. Again I replied 'no.' She then stated: "Mommy loves Daddy." To which I had to reply, again - "no." She was quiet for a long moment, in which I had HOPED she had tired of the subject, because I was getting emotional. She then dashed that hope by asking very quietly, "Mommy loves Chloe?" I set her down in the grass, and settled down next to her, and told her that yes, her Mommy loves Chloe very much. She looked confused, and then stated quite clearly, that "Mommy loves Daddy." I told her 'no, not anymore, baby." She then asked me over and over, if "Mommy loves Chloe" to which I keep responding 'yes.' It then dawned on me. Chloe had watched Mommy and Daddy say "I love you" for most of her life, and give a quick kiss to each other, much like the way we do with her. My daughter had realized today that saying it one day... doesn't mean you will still love someone the next day. THAT started me crying again. I told her that Daddy loves her so very much and that no one would ever replace her. I gave her a big hug and set her in my lap. She turned and looked at me and reached up and kissed my eyes, saying "Don't hurt Daddy, owie all better," then sat back against my chest and snuggled into my lap. I asked her if she wanted to call her Mommy, and she said no. I tried to dial her mom anyway, and she just closed the phone, hanging it up. We sat there for a long time, just watching the grass while I stroked her back. Chloe never complained, never fidgeted, never tried to move until her aunt called to find out where to pick Chloe up.

A two year old should NOT have to learn that lesson.