Parental bliss

Why do we all do it? It is for moments like these:

1. A rare moment of peace alone to type, feeling deep pride in one’s son. I am home alone with both boys for a week, and today is the first full day. They both need to nap at the same time but our big boy sometimes has trouble waiting for me to nap the small boy, rattling the door, stomping around, singing and such, so usually TV is involved. Today he wanted to “play quietly in his room”. And you know what? He did! He was sweetly playing with his wooden cars on his rug when I went in.  I dropped down beside him and scooped him up, beaming with pride and appreciation for some kisses and high fives. The best part though was his grin of pride in himself. And then, to top it off, since he is starting to drop his nap, he napped! Both are napping, simultaneously. A miracle?

2. A nocturnal cuddle. Despite all my work sleep training wee Daniel, teething is teething, a cold and a new room besides. And there is something so deeply delicious about his warm body snuggled into my lap, my body responding with its best gift of comfort, to nurse. The two of us quietly appreciating each other’s closeness, our smells, our time out of time (for historical accuracy, it was 4:15am). For that moment, we were everything to each other.

3. Two little children, bundled in brown snowsuits, the one of them in a much too puffy one-piece, enjoying a deeply satisfying snowfall. Ben noticing the individual patterns of actual snowflakes for the first time, as well as the sinful, age-old pleasure of snow on a brother’s nose. Daniel taking it all in, the whiteness, the fresh chill on the cheek, the way his mitten makes a pattern on the ground.

They are precious.

E