A Mama Moment

I've been thinking alot about "little" moments lately. Those sweet sips of pure enjoyment when you feel completely centered. I wrote a little bit about touchstones last month, and those are sometimes made up of little moments. But, sometimes, little moments don’t have big meaning. Sometimes, they just allow you to be absolutely truly you for a little moment in time. How comforting.

For some reason, I’m always caught off guard by the little moments, which, I suppose, says something sad about how I usually function. I think I’m in good company, though. There are few who have the awareness or the freedom to live within those little moments more often than not. And so, I take especial pleasure when they sneak up on me.

Tonight Rowan and I escaped to his nursery an hour before bedtime. The trip was inspired by three temper tantrums in a row. I opted for the lamp, left the overhead light off, and put one of my old 35’s on the record player. We read along (Lady and the Tramp—he’s currently obsessed with the movie), danced (The Owl and the Pussycat), giggled (Puff the Magic Dragon), and acted silly (Micky Mouse’s Farmyard).

We read Kiss Goodnight and then tip-toed downstairs to say goodnight to Papa. Hmmm…that may have been a mistake since another temper tantrum ensued. So, Mama sat in the rocking chair and Rowan lay prone on the floor while I read a collection of classic songs and nursery rhymes. Eventually, I felt a hand on my knee and heard a little voice say, “Up, Mama.” We snuggled and read two more nursery rhymes before bed (Three Little Kittens and Row, Row, Row Your Boat).

Rowan has been so good with bedtime lately. I got a big bear hug and then he lay down quietly in his crib. He asked for the “moon song” and Mama sang him to sleep.

As I closed his door behind me, I indulged a wicked, satisfied smile. Ah…a little moment of contentment and it was good.