Cooking with a Cling-On

Collin hit a mama's boy peak over the weekend, being unusually clingy. On Sunday, Cas tried to distract him so I could cook. He took him outside, which normally is a sure bet for Collin contentment, but I could hear him screaming from inside our kitchen. He preferred being wrapped around my leg to being pushed on the swing by his dad.
So I made this with a toddler underfoot, and was feeling like a supermom . . .
Until I surveyed the aftermath on the counter top -
I am about to travel four of the next five weeks with my work - by far the most travel I've done so far, even though some of the trips are just one or two night stays. So Collin will have plenty of time to bond with Cas, but hopefully he won't be too independent when I'm home.

Bruno used to love me so much. Cas and I would be sitting on the couch with him sleeping the next cushion over. And when I'd get up to get a glass of water in the kitchen, he'd follow me. Bruno was my shadow, my cuddle dog, a mama's boy. And now he could care less when I leave and normally stays in the living room with Cas until Cas calls it a night, rather than going to bed early with me.

I am expecting the same pattern with Collin. Mama's boy until he discovers how much fun it is to wrestle with his dad or watch his magic tricks or play sports together. And then I'll be the chopped liver parent wishing for days where it took twice as long to get dinner together because my little boy would position himself directly in front of me and say "up." So now I'm picking him up when requested, giving him millions of hugs and kisses while he allows, and trying to soak up every preferred parent minute while they last.