Is that an angel?

I have five friends who had babies last year. And they are unanimous in their verdict: our kids play us from the moment they are born. It’s often very difficult to admit that our beautiful angels could be unintentionally but cleverly manipulating our responses well before they can speak. But it’s true, isn’t it?  

They live in our arms during their waking hours and have all the time in the world to observe what makes us tick. On the other hand, we are usually too busy tending to their every need to notice that observant gaze following us and deciphering us.

So what happens when we drop whatever it is at hand and just settle back on that couch and stare back into those surprised and delighted eyes? Do we see that we truly are their best friend? The one person on earth who’ll understand their every cry and every sigh?

As they grow older, it gets better in so many ways as they discover new ways to communicate with us – drool-filled giggles to show they love being tickled, curious eyes widening in amazement at the sight of something new, frowning in concentration trying to understand the advantages of potty training, or even that vehement shake of the head when you try to convince them that greens are good.

All of us would agree that parenthood has taught us heaps. But where does this enlightenment come from? From parents? From friends and siblings? From colleagues? From the pediatrician? From sympathetic strangers watching you trying to get a grip on your rambunctious three year old?

It took me almost five years to get the basics right: to just pause and listen to that small voice amid all that mayhem in my head. But when I see that gleam of happiness when she knows she has my attention, not because she’s been naughty but just because she asked for it, it makes me wish I’d listened sooner.