Wonderment. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of parenting. When my babies were little, wonderment was more of a daily occurrence. I would look at them in awe as they learned to roll over or say ‘momma’ or blow kisses. Then they took their first wobbly steps and Saul and I were so captivated we contemplated renting a billboard to announce the brilliance of our children.
But there’s another side to parenting wonderment. It’s that look in your child’s eyes when they simply cannot believe what they are seeing.
Ben, my big kindergartener, stumbled down the steps for breakfast this morning in his underwear. The sleep that was still clouding his vision was instantly swept away when he hit the kitchen. In an expression that confirmed his mind was clearly not making sense of the scene, his eyes darted back and forth… overturned chairs, Lucky Charms strewn over the countertop, and a little leprechaun (also known as a garden gnome) hiding sheepishly in the corner.
He began running between his two siblings as they each found hidden treasures and hints of naughtiness… green water in the toilet, green milk in the fridge, a shoe tied up high in fancy green ribbon.
I stood back and watched with gratitude. I don’t know how many more years the leprechaun will visit our house… there have been plenty of years when he hasn’t. But this year, wonderment abounded in the Phillips’ household, and it was wonderful.
***I’d love to show you pictures of our morning fun, but apparently late night elf-work (or leprechaun work in this case) makes a mom too tired to remember the camera function on her iphone. Maybe next year! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!