Naming Ceremony

I went with my daughter to my best friend's granddaughter's Naming Ceremony yesterday. This was one of those occasions that Kieron always tries to wriggle out of but the prospect of new clothes and loads of cake would sway him. Whenever I take Kieron to a 'function' he clings to me while he checks out the other kids there and becomes a little adult. He shakes hands with the men on being introduced and blushes at the comments from the women. He asks how they are while I beam with pride at his manners and maturity. Jade and Callum usually tease him good-naturedly if they come with us,but Kieron ends up chastising them for not behaving properly.
Kieron likes babies. He thinks they're funny and although Leah was born 2 months too late to meet Kieron, I know he would have been amused by her. Kieron likes making babies laugh, "she likes me doesn't she mum?" joining in with the laughter.
When it's just the two of us, Kieron stays at my side until he's introduced to one of the other boys and gradually decided that it's ok to do his own thing. Yesterday, a couple of lads were playing pool and I thought of other occasions when Kieron would watch and run to take the white ball from the pocket before it could trundle through the pool table. Putting it back into play is always a sure-fire way of breaking the ice and being asked to take part in a game.
The Naming Ceremony itself was hard to get through yesterday. Poems were read and one in particular told of tucking your child up at night with a kiss. Sideways glances at Jade to make sure she was ok while holding in my emotions.
Afterwards there was a buffet. Oh the delights of this type of food to a 10 year old. His favourite sandwiches of tuna mayo, sausage rolls, sticky sausages, chicken goujons (one of the last times he ate these was straight from the fridge, Kieron didn't realise they had to be cooked first but still said they were nice), gateaux, cheesecake, cupcakes. Kieron piles his plate high  with sandwiches and gateau on the same plate, taking a bite of each and not seeing anything wrong with it. Requests for Tango or Appletiser being met, leading to an evening of hyper activity. Slabs of cake to take home to top up the sugar levels before bedtime, generally ending in Kieron sleeping in my bed "because I can't get to sleep". Cuddling up to me and discussing his day and the new friends he's made and talking as if he's known them for years. This was the first function I've attended since last April... I think it's going to be the last too.