到了餐厅，
找到食物摊位后，
我就随手拿了一碗鸡块，找了个位置坐下来。
刚坐下，
娃儿突然问了一句：
“妈妈，我真的可以在这里吃饭吗？就我一个小孩。”
我愣了一下。
原来，在他的世界里——
中学生和高中生，已经是“大孩子”了。
而他，
是这里“唯一的小孩”。
我赶紧安慰他：
“可以的，没关系。因为你是妈妈的孩子！”
他说完，就自己跑了过去。
拿到了喜欢的 pizza 和鸡块。
——
平常去 Chick-fil-A，
几块鸡块都不便宜。
今晚也是 Chick-fil-A，
但用碗装着，
学生们一碗一碗地吃，吃得津津有味。
吃了一碗，又一碗。
我对娃儿说：
“今晚所有的食物，都是免费的！”
他一下子瞪大了眼睛：
“免费的？不用给那些人（志愿者家长）钱吗？”
我说：
“学校已经付过钱了。”
——
我又提醒他：
“你也可以去拿蛋糕和饼干。
不拿的话，等一下就没了。”
于是，
他又自己跑过去志愿者的摊位拿了。
回来之后，还不忘告诉我：
“妈妈，那个 lady 很 nice！”
我心里笑了一下。
大概是那些家长太热情了。
他一向很容易被——
先对他好的人吸引。
我跟他说：
“他们也是学生的妈妈。”
——
吃着吃着，他突然问我：
“妈妈，我以后中学也在这里吃饭吗？”
我说：
“是的。”
接着，他还指着餐厅墙上的Pizza显目的招牌让我看。
——
他越吃越开心。
炸鸡块、比萨饼、蛋糕、饼干、饺子——
而且可以一直续。
对于一个孩子来说，
这几乎就像过年一样。
——
我突然想起自己小时候。
最喜欢的，也是过年过节。
大人聚在一起吃饭，
小孩子就可以到处跑、到处玩。
其实也不一定是多爱吃。
更像是——
喜欢那种感觉：
身边的人都很放松，
没有人管你太多，
可以自由自在地存在。
——
以前不太懂。
现在才明白。
原来那种感觉，叫——
自由。
婷妈的亲子日常 创作于 2026.05.02
原创发布： tingtingma.com
写给孩子，也写给正在成长的大人。
未经授权，请勿转载。
Tingma’s Parenting Diary | 248. “I’m the Only Little Kid”
We arrived at the cafeteria.
After finding the food stations,
I casually grabbed a bowl of chicken nuggets and found a seat.
Just as I sat down,
my son suddenly asked:
“Mom, can I really eat here? I’m the only kid.”
I paused for a moment.
In his world—
middle schoolers and high schoolers were already “big kids.”
And he,
was the “only little kid” here.
I quickly reassured him:
“It’s okay. Don’t worry. You’re here because you’re with Mom.”
As soon as I said that,
he ran off on his own
and came back with pizza and chicken nuggets—his favorites.
—
Usually, when we go to Chick-fil-A,
a few nuggets aren’t cheap.
Tonight was Chick-fil-A too,
but everything was served in bowls,
and the students were eating happily, bowl after bowl.
One bowl, then another.
I told him:
“All the food tonight is free!”
His eyes widened:
“Free? We don’t have to pay those people (the volunteer parents)?”
I said:
“The school has already paid for it.”
—
I reminded him:
“You can go get some cake and cookies too.
If you don’t go now, they might be gone later.”
So he ran off again
to the volunteer table.
When he came back, he made sure to tell me:
“Mom, that lady is very nice!”
I smiled to myself.
The parents were probably just being warm and welcoming.
He’s always been easily drawn to people
who are kind to him first.
I told him:
“They’re students’ moms too.”
—
While eating, he suddenly asked:
“Mom, will I eat here too when I’m in middle school?”
I said:
“Yes.”
Then he pointed at the big pizza sign on the wall and showed it to me.
—
He kept getting happier as he ate.
Fried chicken nuggets, pizza, cake, cookies, dumplings—
and unlimited refills.
For a child,
this felt almost like a holiday.
—
I suddenly thought of my own childhood.
My favorite times were also holidays.
Adults would gather and eat together,
and kids could run around and play freely.
It wasn’t even about the food.
It was more about that feeling—
everyone around you relaxed,
no one watching you too closely,
just being free to be yourself.
—
I didn’t understand it back then.
Now I do.
That feeling—
is called freedom.
Tingma’s Parenting Diary
Written on May 2, 2026
Originally published at: tingtingma.com
Written for my child, and for the adults who are still growing.
Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Originally written in Chinese by the author.
This English version was translated with the assistance of ChatGPT.