Jack calls my badge I use from work his driver's license. "That's my driver's license, Dad," he tells me.
It's not a license. It's the badge I use to get physical access to my building at work. I use it for other things at work, too.
Jack loves it, he wants it all the time. I take it away and he whines. This Sunday, he was allowed to wear it (big mistake on my part). We went over to see family and Jack played outside with his cousins on the tire swing, on the playground, and playing chase.
"Jack, where's Daddy's driver's license?" I asked the boy. "I don't know, Dad." My stomach inched up my throat a little. It's going to be difficult for me to get in to work without that "driver's license," I thought to myself.
"I don't know," replied the four year old, "It's in Mom's purse." Yeah, Mom, she rescued the badge.
So yesterday, we conspired to make Jack a driver's license. It looks exactly like mine does in a lot of ways. Madeline and I cut out a 1" by 1.5" picture of Jack from a photo and taped it on the badge with some shipper's tape. It really does look good. I got Jack a badge holder and an alligator clip (or whatever those are really called) so he could attach to his clothing.
When Jack came home we show him his new driver's license. Madeline and I are beaming and ask leading questions, "What do you think Jack?"
"I have a driver's license!!!" Jack exclaimed, "Now I can go to work with Daddy!!!!!"
Bam. Instant. Heart. Melts. Why do they have to be older than four?
Jack woke up this morning early, he wanted his driver's license and big Thomas train. He wore the driver's license all day at pre-school. The teachers thought it was adorable.