“I know regular kids don’t have to pay,” Austin answered, his eyes filling with tears he was trying hard to blink away.

“Then why did you open up your piggy bank and bring all your savings down here this morning?” I asked him gently.

“Because last night Dad told Grandma things are way too expensive right now, and every little bit of money counts,” he whispered, pushing the pile closer to my arm.

“Oh, my sweet boy,” I breathed, hot tears of my own stinging behind my eyes while my daughter slept peacefully on my chest.

“I really promise I won’t eat a lot of food, Mom, and I already know how to get the baby wipes and the clean diapers out of the nursery bin,” he begged.