This weekend, my sister and I were laughing about those parenting moments when the world is coming down around you — babies crying on a plane, teens slamming the ol’ bedroom door — and thus how magical it is when you then experience a parenting moment that IS just how you pictured — say, hearing a toddler’s first word or chatting about middle-school crushes at bedtime.
One of my pinch-yourself parenting moments: The boys and I were playing hide-and-seek at our neighborhood playground, and we’d already tried out all the obvious hiding spots (behind a big tree, in the bushes, etc). So! I decided to hide where they’d never look: in a group of parents standing right there. I walked up to the adults and said, “Hi! I’m hiding from my kids, so can I join your conversation?” They laughed and took me right in. When the boys finished counting and began searching for me, they looked everywhere — behind benches, under slides — except at the grown-ups standing there chatting about whatever stuff grown-ups chat about! I could not stop laughing, hiding in plain sight.
What about you? Please share a time when you were like, This is the stuff! (Also, Freddie’s epic hiding spot as a coat rack.)
P.S. Three words that changed how I parent, and what little things enchant your children?
(Photo of the boys and me by Heather Moore, from years ago:)
This story originally appeared on Cup of Jo
