Animal Crackers

One of my distinct memories from my childhood is getting 'Barnum's Animals' animal crackers when my mom and I were out shopping.

I loved that you could hold the box like a purse. I loved that it was kid sized. I loved that my mom got it for me.

We couldn't afford to get treats all the time, so when me or my sisters got something special like this, it was important to us!

I was so excited when I got my Publix Baby Club coupons in the mail, and one was for a free box of animal crackers. 

We got in the car and went for a Publix run. 

We had to hunt down the animal crackers, but it was totally worth it.

Just like I did as a kid, Grace proudly carried around the cracker box on her wrist.

She hesitantly handed it to the cashier to ring it up, and then promptly took it back, placing it ever so gingerly back on her chubby wrist.

As soon as we got to our car, she asked me to help her open them.

Then she happily munched on them the whole way home, occasionally holding one up for me to see in the mirror, proclaiming, "Mama, COOKIE!!"

It made my heart nearly burst with joy to see how happy she was with such a small treat.

Not because it was some grand gesture of love.

But because, maybe, just maybe she'll remember me as being even half as amazing as my mom was to me.