Wednesday, April 30, 2014

This Magic Moment

This magic moment
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I *smelled you

And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
By the look in your eyes

Will last forever (this magic moment)
Forever till the end of time (magic)

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (moment)

-Lyrics by Ben E. King, Immortalized by The Drifters

*words changed to protect the guilty...

In 1783, John Adams took a horrendous journey from London to The Hague which included storms on the North Sea and iceboats. He said that experience moved him forever from one stage of life to the next.

Yeah. I've recently had one of those not so magic moments which has moved me into a new stage of parenting.

The adolescent stage. Any wonder why it is called that? If you are unclear, just wait. You'll understand when your child reaches puberty. Or pre-puberty.

One of the best smells in the world may be that of a freshly bathed baby.

One of the worst smells in the world is climbing into a mini van with a fresh boy or two. The combo of perspiration, dirt, and general deodorant-free existence.

I had another magic moment in the not too distant past of discovering that one of the off-spring has thought for months that conditioner is a replacement for shampoo. Not to be used in conjunction with, of course. Snort. 

This also pairs well with the I couldn't find the soap excuse. Or I forgot my deodorant excuse.

You might have. You aren't allowing us the option of forgetting that you forgot though.

Ah (big sigh), the joys of parenting.


Well, we are embarking on another parenting stage in the Barefoot Hippie parenting annals...that of braces and orthodontics. Expanders and tracks, head gear and flossing issues.

Unwilling to ease into it all, we will have 2 kids in braces and expanders in just two weeks. 

No more tootsie rolls or jolly ranchers. Taffy or caramel corn. 

Just cake. And cookies. 

In addition, we are contemplating subjects such as the talk and the fact that my oldest will be the age I was when I got married-in just 11 short years. He is over halfway there. 

I think I am getting old.

Enjoy your magic moments. The real magic moments. The day to day magic moments. The smiles, the jokes, the tears, the tiredness, the scraped knees, the snuggles.

In retrospect, it all passes in a blink!