chickensoup story Magical Moments

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Magical Moments

As a stay-at-home mom, I've realized that the memories you will cherish of your

child aren't forced--they happen naturally.

BY: Sherrie Page Najarian

" Maa-maaa! " My two-year-old daughter, , called from her crib. I bounded up

the stairs, excited to have the whole day to play with her. I was now,

officially, a stay-at-home mom. Lucky enough to have the option, I'd made a

tough decision and quit my job as a registered nurse.

" Ready for some fun? " I picked up and gave her a tight squeeze, grateful

to finally have the time to conquer all the " mommy-and-me " projects I'd

collected from parenting magazines. I could never get to them on weekends, and I

was ready to catch up. and I would make animal masks out of paper plates in

the morning and homemade Play-Doh in the afternoon. For lunch, I'd use cookie

cutters to make edible figurines out of American cheese slices. After her nap,

we'd make gift wrap using 's handprints. My life could finally be full of

the magical moments I imagined filled up the days of stay-at-home mothers

everywhere.

While singing nursery rhymes, I poured pancake batter into heart-shaped molds, a

breakfast that literally showed my love. As I handed her plate, I took a

deep breath of satisfaction; she looked so sweet in her new dress and matching

hair bow. The day was ours to enjoy. I turned my back for only a second and was

shocked to turn back around to find covered in syrup. I'd imagined pushing

my princess through the grocery store in her new outfit, while white-haired

ladies nodded approvingly over their shopping carts. The fantasy would have to

wait. By the time I changed her clothes, cleaned up the breakfast mess, started

the laundry, changed a stinky pull-up, and answered two phone calls, I was

already way behind schedule. When would I have time to fit in my list of magical

moments? On my way out the door, I noticed a note from my husband telling me to

please Express Mail the important papers he'd left on his desk to our

accountant. The note went on to say that he needed his shirts from the dry

cleaners for tomorrow's business trip, and since I no longer worked and had the

whole day, could I make his favorite pot roast for dinner?

I sighed. " Well, . We better get moving. "

The line at the post office was out the door with only one clerk on duty.

Intrigued by all the packaging materials, kept getting away from me to

touch everything. I didn't see the harm until…crash! She knocked over a

display of assorted envelopes. I sheepishly cleaned up the mess, thankful a nice

man took pity on me and saved my place in line.

From there, we finally headed off to the dry cleaners, but fell asleep in

the car. I wanted to run in and leave her napping, but I sensed child abductors

lurking everywhere and decided to just go home and let her sleep in peace.

As soon as I turned off the car engine, 's eyes shot open and she wailed out

a tired cry. As I carried her into the house, I sobbed with her, my high

expectations spilling out with my tears. What happened to our perfect day?

When did stay-at-home moms fit in all those quality child-parent activities? I

wouldn't even let myself think about my other goals to commit to a regular

exercise schedule and start an at-home business. I had really been clueless

about this stay-at-home-mom stuff.

Hugging my precious daughter, we rocked and sniffled together. " You're my

honey-bear, " I whispered, feeling the weight of her sink into me. Her eyes

gently shut, and I held her until she fell back asleep in my arms. I stroked

the soft hair that curled above her neck and breathed in her smell, a mixture of

sweat and maple syrup. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed for the first time that

day. I was there with my daughter, forgetting about my to-do list, and it felt

good.

Still, it took years for me to realize that such moments were the best and far

surpassed the ones I tried to invent with heart-shaped pancakes or processed

cheese sculptures. The less I tried to create life's magical moments, the more I

was able to notice them when they naturally happened. And they were even more

delicious as surprises.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Chicken-Soup-For-The-Soul/2007/04/Magical-M\

oments.aspx