My 8-year-old son secretly skipped school lunches to buy our neighbor\u2019s daughter a red birthday dress. I thought his biggest problem would be explaining himself to me. The next morning, dozens of lunchboxes covered our lawn. Noah opened the biggest one, backed away, and told me to call the cops.<\/p>\n
The first time Noah saw the red dress, he stopped so suddenly that I nearly walked straight into him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next morning, dozens of lunchboxes covered our lawn.<\/p>\n
I followed his finger to a tiny red dress in the store window, with a full skirt and a bow at the waist.<\/p>\n
\u201cLucy needs that.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him. \u201cNeeds?\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah considered the word.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Wants.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed. \u201cShe hasn\u2019t even seen it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019d like it, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
I followed his finger to a tiny red dress in the store window<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave me the patient look children reserve for adults who have somehow failed to understand something obvious.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she\u2019d look like a princess.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucy lived next door with her mother, Hannah.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she\u2019d look like a princess.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was almost two, had Down syndrome, and had adored Noah for as long as she was old enough to recognize him coming through the gate.<\/p>\n
He brought her dandelions, drew terrible dogs for her, and made ridiculous noises just to hear her laugh.<\/p>\n
She was almost two, had Down syndrome.<\/p>\n
Hannah had been raising her alone since she was a baby, and most months were tight.<\/p>\n
A few weeks before Lucy\u2019s second birthday, Hannah and I were drinking coffee while Lucy stacked plastic cups on the patio.<\/p>\n
Hannah had been raising her alone since she was a baby, and most months were tight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not really doing a party this year,\u201d Hannah admitted. \u201cCake at home. Maybe balloons. We\u2019ve had extra appointments lately. Everything costs something.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Noah later asked me why Lucy wasn\u2019t having a \u201creal birthday,\u201d I gave him the simplest version.<\/p>\n
Noah later asked me why Lucy wasn\u2019t having a \u201creal birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHannah has other things she needs to pay for right now, sweetie.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked toward the house next door.<\/p>\n
Then he asked, \u201cLike helping Lucy learn stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah nodded once.<\/p>\n
Over the next three weeks, my son became strangely economical.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike helping Lucy learn stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n
The first time I offered him $5 for an after-school snack, he pushed it back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m good, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah had never once in his life been \u201cgood\u201d when French fries were available.<\/p>\n
\u201cWant an extra dollar for later?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
He grinned as I added one.<\/p>\n
Then he asked Cyril if he could rake our leaves for money.<\/p>\n
The first time I offered him $5 for an after-school snack, he pushed it back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou live here,\u201d my husband reminded him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril looked at me. \u201cI respect the confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soon Noah was knocking on Mrs. Reynolds\u2019 door asking whether she needed leaves collected.<\/p>\n
Then another neighbor.<\/p>\n
He started keeping dollar bills in an old pencil case beneath his bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect the confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
I assumed he was saving for a toy.<\/p>\n
Then one afternoon, I found the lunch money.<\/p>\n
Three crumpled bills sat on his dresser beside a school cafeteria receipt from several days earlier.<\/p>\n
That evening, I waited until he finished his homework.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah, what did you eat for lunch today?\u201d<\/p>\n
I assumed he was saving for a toy.<\/p>\n
He kept staring at his homework. \u201cSchool food.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah.\u201d<\/p>\n
He finally looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been skipping lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes went toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
Then he disappeared into his room.<\/p>\n
I followed.<\/p>\n
He reached under the bed, pulled out the pencil case, and counted the bills onto the comforter.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been skipping lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thirty-eight dollars.<\/p>\n
Then he opened his closet.<\/p>\n
Hanging from the handle in a clear garment bag was the red dress.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, I just stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bought it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got the last one.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shop was just down the street, and he\u2019d bought it himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuddy, you stopped eating lunch for this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI got the last one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot every day, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not the point.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Lucy\u2019s birthday is tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat beside him.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen to me, baby. Wanting to give Lucy something beautiful is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
He brightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut hiding that you\u2019re hungry is not.\u201d<\/p>\n
His face fell again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed the money, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWanting to give Lucy something beautiful is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you ask us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might\u2019ve said no.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you ask if you can earn it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did rake leaves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Reynolds pays terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed despite myself.<\/p>\n
Then I pulled him against me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never skip food to prove you care about somebody. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might\u2019ve said no.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sighed into my shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
That evening, my mother-in-law stopped by.<\/p>\n
She happened to be in the kitchen when Noah came downstairs carrying the garment bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook what I got Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n
My MIL smiled at first.<\/p>\n
Then I explained how he\u2019d paid for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook what I got Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her gaze turned to flint.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou skipped lunches for THAT?\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah nodded.<\/p>\n
She laughed.<\/p>\n
Then she looked at the dress again.<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart, that\u2019s a waste of money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah stopped smiling.<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart, that\u2019s a waste of money.\u201d<\/p>\n
She shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cLucy is two. And with everything going on with her, she probably doesn\u2019t even understand what a birthday is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah looked at her.<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cIf you\u2019re going to save that hard, buy something for yourself. Lucy won\u2019t know the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe probably doesn\u2019t even understand what a birthday is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah spoke softly, without a single tremor.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe understands when someone\u2019s nice to her, Grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
My MIL gaped like a landed fish, completely drained of arguments.<\/p>\n
Cyril had just entered from the garage and had heard enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe understands when someone\u2019s nice to her, Grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
She lifted both hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, don\u2019t make this into something ugly. I\u2019m being practical.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril walked straight to Noah.<\/p>\n
He crouched beside him and touched the plastic covering the dress.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood color, buddy. Lucy\u2019s going to spin in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood color, buddy. Lucy\u2019s going to spin in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My MIL sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou people hear what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re done for tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared at me.<\/p>\n
Then at Cyril.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to leave over a dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou people hear what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cI want you to leave because my eight-year-old understands kindness better than you apparently do tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
That ended the conversation.<\/p>\n
The next afternoon, Hannah held the tiniest birthday party I had ever attended.<\/p>\n
There were seven of us, a grocery-store cake, and six balloons.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy eight-year-old understands kindness better than you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah arrived carrying the red dress in both hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is for Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannah blinked. \u201cFor her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When she did, she immediately looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdele, this is too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah bought it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My son corrected me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI earned most of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is for Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
He added quickly, \u201cAnd I won\u2019t skip lunch again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril coughed to hide a laugh.<\/p>\n
Hannah knelt in front of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bought this for her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah gave a single, firm dip of his chin.<\/p>\n
Hannah smiled. \u201cI think she\u2019ll like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t skip lunch again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later, Hannah brought Lucy outside wearing the red dress.<\/p>\n
Noah had been right.<\/p>\n
The moment Lucy realized the skirt moved, she grabbed both sides and spun.<\/p>\n
She stumbled sideways, caught herself against Hannah\u2019s knees, then demanded to be set loose again.<\/p>\n
Noah had been right.<\/p>\n
Noah laughed so hard he had to sit down.<\/p>\n
Lucy squealed.<\/p>\n
Red fabric flew around her legs.<\/p>\n
Hannah wiped at her face.<\/p>\n
I saw my mother-in-law standing near the fence.<\/p>\n
She had come after all.<\/p>\n
She watched Lucy spin.<\/p>\n
For once, she said nothing.<\/p>\n
Red fabric flew around her legs.<\/p>\n
That night, Cyril found me watching Noah sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cProud?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery,\u201d I said. \u201cStill furious about the lunches.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSame.\u201d<\/p>\n
We had barely made it out of bed before 6:30 the next morning when Noah came charging into our room.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom! Dad!\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome outside!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill furious about the lunches.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril\u2019s feet hit the cold floor before his brain even processed the shift in Noah\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n
I followed our son through the hallway and onto the porch.<\/p>\n
Then I stopped.<\/p>\n
Our entire front lawn was covered with lunchboxes.<\/p>\n
At least 50.<\/p>\n
Maybe more.<\/p>\n
Our entire front lawn was covered with lunchboxes.<\/p>\n
Dinosaurs, superheroes, bright colors, old metal boxes beside brand-new insulated bags.<\/p>\n
They stretched from our porch almost to the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
Noah turned slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre these mine?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have absolutely no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril came out behind us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat in the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Then Noah spotted the largest one.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre these mine?\u201d<\/p>\n
It sat by itself in the middle of the lawn.<\/p>\n
A battered metal lunchbox big enough to hold a small toolbox.<\/p>\n
Across the lid, someone had taped a white card.<\/p>\n
OPEN THIS FIRST<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah, wait,\u201d I warned.<\/p>\n
Too late.<\/p>\n
He knelt.<\/p>\n
The metal clasp snapped open.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah, wait,\u201d I warned.<\/p>\n
He lifted the lid.<\/p>\n
And stopped moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah?\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
Then he scrambled backward so quickly he nearly fell over one of the smaller lunchboxes.<\/p>\n
Blood deserted his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I hurried over.<\/p>\n
Inside were thick bundles of cash.<\/p>\n
Blood deserted his face.<\/p>\n
A work identification badge belonging to a woman none of us knew.<\/p>\n
A key with a bright plastic tag.<\/p>\n
And a wedding photograph.<\/p>\n
Noah stared at the money.<\/p>\n
Then at the badge and key.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026 somebody left all their stuff here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked up at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cCall the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026 somebody left all their stuff here.\u201d<\/p>\n
A woman\u2019s voice shouted from the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n
I spun around.<\/p>\n
A woman was hurrying toward us, laughing and waving both hands.<\/p>\n
She looked to be in her thirties, and I noticed immediately that she had Down syndrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah pointed accusingly at the giant lunchbox.<\/p>\n
\u201cWHY IS YOUR MONEY IN MY YARD?\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman stopped.<\/p>\n
Looked into the box.<\/p>\n
Then at Noah.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause apparently I did a terrible job making this look less criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind her stood several adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cWHY IS YOUR MONEY IN MY YARD?\u201d<\/p>\n
They hadn\u2019t left the boxes unattended. They\u2019d been waiting just beyond our hedge for Noah to come outside.<\/p>\n
Hannah was there too.<\/p>\n
And Lucy.<\/p>\n
Still wearing the red dress.<\/p>\n
The woman pointed at the work badge inside the metal lunchbox.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s me,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m Tessa.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u2019d been waiting just beyond our hedge for Noah to come outside.<\/p>\n
Noah narrowed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou put all that money there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith supervision,\u201d Tessa replied. \u201cApparently eight-year-olds are very suspicious accountants.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril covered a laugh with his hand.<\/p>\n
Hannah stepped closer with Lucy balanced on one hip.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou put all that money there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lunchboxes came from families at the community center,\u201d she explained. \u201cI posted a picture of Lucy in her dress last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah looked at Hannah.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told everybody I skipped lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI posted a picture of Lucy in her dress last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told them what you did,\u201d she said gently. \u201cIncluding the part where your mom said you weren\u2019t allowed to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tessa crouched beside the battered box.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis old thing is mine, by the way. I\u2019ve had it since I started working. The money isn\u2019t for you, Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told them what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
He visibly relaxed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for a weekend program we\u2019ve been trying to start,\u201d Tessa said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been raising money for it for months and were getting close, but we couldn\u2019t quite finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah stared at the other lunchboxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy all these?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tessa smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you gave up yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy all these?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Then she nodded toward the others.<\/p>\n
\u201cHannah shared what you did with families from the center last night. Someone said if one kid could give up his lunches to make another kid happy, maybe the rest of us could finish what we\u2019d already started.\u201d<\/p>\n
She gestured toward the lawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf one kid could give up his lunches to make another kid happy, maybe the rest of us could finish what we\u2019d already started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then she nodded toward the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later, we were inside the neighborhood community center.<\/p>\n
The lunchboxes had been borrowed from people connected to the program.<\/p>\n
It was meant to bring kids with Down syndrome together with siblings and friends for art, music, games, movement, and whatever else they simply enjoyed doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
One held dance shoes.<\/p>\n
Another had gardening gloves.<\/p>\n
Another contained an old library card and three pens.<\/p>\n
Tessa opened her battered lunchbox again and picked up the work badge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked at the same bakery for seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then she lifted the key with the bright plastic tag.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked at the same bakery for seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, she picked up the wedding photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah studied it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re married?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYep.\u201d Tessa sighed dramatically. \u201cHe snores.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah nodded solemnly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo does Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril said, \u201cBetrayal!\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah looked from the badge to the key to the photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo all that stuff is yours?\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah looked from the badge to the key to the photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll mine,\u201d Tessa acknowledged.<\/p>\n
She touched the three things with one finger.<\/p>\n
\u201cI put them in there because when I was little, people had lots of ideas about what I might never do. Work. Have my own place. Get married.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes crinkled slightly at the corners.<\/p>\n
\u201cI put them in there because when I was little, people had lots of ideas about what I might never do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTurns out people don\u2019t always know as much about somebody else\u2019s future as they think they do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucy wandered toward Noah in the red dress, grabbed the skirt, and spun again.<\/p>\n
My mother-in-law had arrived quietly behind us.<\/p>\n
She watched Lucy laughing.<\/p>\n
Noah noticed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n
She watched Lucy laughing.<\/p>\n
She looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe understood, Grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost corrected him.<\/p>\n
Then I realized Noah did not mean Lucy understood birthdays the way adults discussed them.<\/p>\n
He meant she understood happiness.<\/p>\n
My mother-in-law looked at Lucy again.<\/p>\n
She offered a faint nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe understood, Grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannah was beside me, twisting one tissue between her fingers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money really was tight,\u201d she said. \u201cBut that wasn\u2019t the whole reason I kept the birthday small.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
She looked toward Lucy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money really was tight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI spend so much time asking what helps her. What should she practice? What appointment matters? What will make something easier later?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI forgot to ask what she\u2019d just enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the room, Noah was opening the new lunchbox Tessa had handed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI forgot to ask what she\u2019d just enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inside were a sandwich, fruit, juice, and a cookie.<\/p>\n
He frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly,\u201d Tessa said.<\/p>\n
Cyril crouched beside him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuddy, next time you decide to save the world, tell us before you stop eating.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t saving the world, Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril looked around the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently nobody told them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later, someone offered Lucy cake.<\/p>\n
My mother-in-law started, \u201cShe probably doesn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
She looked at Hannah instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan she have some?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannah smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
That tiny question meant more than any apology she could have given that afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan she have some?\u201d<\/p>\n
By evening, the lawn was empty again.<\/p>\n
The lunchboxes had gone home.<\/p>\n
No cameras.<\/p>\n
No speeches.<\/p>\n
Just our porch, a warm breeze, and Noah eating his sandwich from the new box.<\/p>\n
Lucy sat beside him, still wearing the red dress.<\/p>\n
She reached for his food.<\/p>\n
The lunchboxes had gone home.<\/p>\n
Noah pulled it away.<\/p>\n
\u201cLucy. Mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
She reached again.<\/p>\n
He sighed like an exhausted old man.<\/p>\n
Then he tore off a small piece and handed it to her.<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
Noah immediately took an enormous bite from his own sandwich.<\/p>\n
Then he tore off a small piece and handed it to her.<\/p>\n
With his mouth full, he looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m eating too, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucy smeared jelly across the front of her red dress.<\/p>\n
My hand moved automatically toward the stain.<\/p>\n
Then I stopped.<\/p>\n
She was laughing.<\/p>\n
The dress was doing exactly what Noah bought it for.<\/p>\n
I left it alone.<\/p>\n
The dress was doing exactly what Noah bought it for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My 8-year-old son secretly skipped school lunches to buy our neighbor\u2019s daughter a red birthday dress. I thought his biggest problem would be explaining himself to me. The next morning, … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-inspiration","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43226"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43228,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43226\/revisions\/43228"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingdairy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}