Ever thought about what parenting is like? Of course it is the most heavenly experience one can ever encounter.  But as parents of a highly-charged and inquisitively sharp young toddler, my husband and I have renounced our normal lives!  We cruise behind her all day long. All of a sudden I watch Barney more than I think I should and have recited Ba Ba Black Sheep more than I can ever remember in my entire life!! But the toddler age is the most mystical time I think for both Nivi and us - I'll never again have such a rich opportunity to make her giggle with so much exhilaration on just an ordinary game like peek-a-boo.

Such a treasure our precious Nivi is,
Who will thrive on every hug and kiss.
We want to hold her close and sing her songs,
For she will only be a child so long.

I know that as parents we are like a beacon guiding her all along which makes me nervous.  In all my modesty I sometimes wonder am I the best role model for her?  I am not sure, but I know for sure that I will do my very best to love her boundlessly, share stories about courage, kindness, humor and determination and then let her explore her own identity! I will always promise to hold her but not hold on to her as parenting is a continual process of letting go, a series of gains and losses metered out over months and years. At least, that's been my experience so far.  I came across a beautiful poem on how our kids absorb so much from parents and would like to share it.

To Every Parent:

There are little eyes upon you,
And they are watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly take
In every word you say;
There are little hands all eager to do
Everything you do,
And a little child who's dreaming of
The day she'll be like you.

You're the little child's idol,
You're the wisest of the wise,
In her little mind about you,
No suspicions ever rise;
she believes in you devoutly,
Holds all you say and do;
she will say and do in your way when
she's grown up to be like you.

There's a wide eyed little child who
Believes you're always right,
And her ears are always open and she
Watches day and night;
You are setting an example
Everyday in all you do
For the little child who's waiting
To grow up to be like you.

Author Unknown