Being a parent means navigating a never ending and unexpected myriad of adventures, emotions, celebrations and experiments; and at times living what can be deemed as both the best of and worst of days. It can be the toughest and the most blessed job in the world - so here's 40 treasured child related moments guaranteed to leave a smile on your face, an acknowledging nod and a glow in your heart.
  1. Snuggling up close
  2. Feeling the warmth and energetic vibrations of their little bodies merging with yours
  3. Sticky little hands and chubby wrists gripping and holding you tight - as though their world depended on it
  4. Feeling their strong beating hearts fluttering against you
  5. Knowing that you are their everything
  6. Crying out only for you, and knowing nobody else but you can help them
  7. Picking them back up after they've fallen (physically or metaphorically)
  8. Empowering and reassuring them when another has emotionally hurt them
  9. Being the safe harbour when the world becomes too overwhelming and they need help regaining their bearings
  10. Drawing a picture, singing a song, making up a story, telling a joke for your entertainment only
  11. Doing whatever it takes to engage your full attention and watch your eyes light up and your smile spread from ear to ear
  12. Being privy to all their hopes and fears, secrets and vulnerabilities
  13. Encouraging and applauding their originality and creativity for the same task for the hundredth time
  14. Looking for your encouragement and approval that it is okay to be exactly as they are
  15. Every time they proclaim and express their love and gratitude for you (long may it last!)
  16. Colourful scribbles of unidentifiable objects, out of tune ditties with made up words, never ending stories that have no beginning, middle or end
  17. Repeating made up jokes that they find the hilarious (but make no sense to you!)
  18. Playing make believe, exercising your imagination and creativity and resurrecting your own inner child
  19. Being a single person engaged, enthusiastic and cheerleading audience like no other will ever be
  20. Being gifted hundreds of interesting facts that you probably already know
  21. Laying claim to being the raison d'etre of your child's budding talents
  22. Being repeatedly informed and re-educated on topics such as the difference between each of the Disney princesses and Skylanders
  23. Having the privilege to play Santa, the tooth fairy, the elf on the shelf, and the Easter bunny
  24. The day they finally recognise that your way is the best way (for now!)
  25. Watching tongues slightly protruding from the lips, eyes glazing over and ears tuning out when utterly absorbed in a task
  26. Being totally occupied by something other than you
  27. Falling asleep on you
  28. FINALLY falling asleep on their own (although this can be a double edged sword!)
  29. Listening in on their conversations with friends on whose mummy or daddy is the best
  30. Knowing you will take on exalted challenges like a knight in shining armour, fighting any monsters or demons that may be lurking to keep them safe
  31. Hearing them say I love you for the first or the millionth time
  32. Listening to their ideas of what they will be like when they grow up
  33. Watching them earnestly attempt to dance and master their body movements
  34. Multiple happy birthday, Christmas and other special occasion cards, notes and letters created for you
  35. Their take on 'helping' you
  36. Telling you that you are the most beautiful, brave, amazing, special person ever
  37. Their idea of taking turns and rules when playing a game
  38. Fitting together puzzle pieces that don't fit together
  39. Tidying up
  40. Knowing that no matter what came before - and what is to come after - it has all been worth it