Why Innocence Creates Happiness

Sometimes I think that it's just the littlest things that make me happy. Walking along the leafy side streets with my two small children, their cheeks rosy as they dawdle and dash, stumble and skip. I pass other mothers, we smile and give each other a knowing nod. To be a mother you see, is to be in a very special sort of club.

We attend playgroups and instantly like each other, we coddle their kids and talk about nappies. Little knocked knees, snuffly noses and Calpol. We smile at their blunders and swap stories of pregnancy.

We look at each others clothes, styles and beauty, we giggle at milk stains and broken jewelery caused by sticky little hands. Burps and bubbles, dribbles and squeaks. Squashy thighs and tickly tummies. Oh and nappies and nappies and nappies.

Is that what we're designed for? Squashing cheeks and wiping chins, kissing and dressing little dollies in dolly sized clothes. You know I think it is.

It certainly feels right.

Just behind the right ear of your baby, there's a place that holds a special scent, if you place your cheek above his ear and smell that lovely warm baby head, you will find it. The special baby scent.

When they grow older, they learn about their world. They ask questions and make statements. My four year old said with seriousness. "When it is John's birthday, I will be mostly eating carrots."

John who is 2 year old wants names for every type of vehicle he comes across...I realise that I don't know their names. Or at least the names I use are wrong, I mean what is the difference between a truck and lorry? Bulldozer, digger, tractor, plough, police car, van, cement mixer, crane...oh and Thomas, we mustn't forget Thomas and his colourful engine friends. Can you name them all? The new ones too?

At playgroup last Wednesday, I picked up a plastic dinosaur.

"That's a funny looking dinosaur" Said I

"It's a Parasaurolophus" Said a mum, "And this one's a Giraffatitan, this is a Hypsilophodon, a Stegosaurus, a Velociraptor....."

"How do you know all those names?" I enquired, impressed.

She shrugged "I have an eight year old son"

So with a cup of tea in hand, sitting on a comfy chair amongst mothers, I seek out my son with my eyes, there he is pushing a fire engine down a plastic ramp. A little boy has an ambulance. He pushes it down the plastic ramp too. They look at each other with toddler recognition and appreciation.

"I am a boy" states my son

"I am a boy swell." Replied the other

"She not a boy" Says John pointing to a curly headed girl across the room.

The boy looks at the direction of the point and lowers his brows.

"Naw"

"She a gal"

"Yerr"

They pick up their rescue vehicles and continue with the ramp in silence. Some time passes.

"Daddy a boy." Remarks John "Daddy a big boy."

"I ma big boy"replies the other.

"and me"

This conversation although not earth shattering in content paints a lovely little picture. I know these days will be short lived and my kids will become young adults one day, but while their youth and innocence remains, it will always make me so very happy.