(hugging)

Me: “I love you. You are strong, smart, and beautiful.”

Little Miss Thing, age 7: “Good. You are too.”

Me: “Thank you. I’m very proud of you.”

LMT: “Yeah, I know.”

Me: “Good.”

(long pause)

LMT: “My favorite dessert is cheesecake. I thought you should know that.”

Me: “Noted.”