Mother of the Year Award

As a mother I am constantly evaluating my mothering skills. Did I handle this tantrum well? Am I reading to him often enough? Should I have let him spend that extra 30 minutes in a wet diaper because I'm a hippy and hate to waste? I know I'm not alone. We women are overly critical (and sometimes even overly praising) of ourselves over what really is much more luck than we'd like to admit.

Though I tend toward the overly critical there is one thing I have managed to teach my son to do that I am rather proud of. No, I didn't mangage teach him:

• the names and capitals of all the states,


• how to read at a 5th grade level, or


• how to play a fiddle so well he most certainly would walk away from any contest with one of the golden variety.

It is something far more simple. And much more hilarious. I taught my son to laugh hysterically when someone burps or toots. Now wait! Before you go gasping in horror over the lack of manners for which I am advocating let me ask you this:

At the end of the day when you are stressed, when you're carrying burdens that feel they will break you down, how can you not follow suit when a cute little toddler dissolves into giggles after tooting twice in a row? Seriously, it is the Balm of Gilead to my soul. But then again, maybe I'm just too immature to be a mother.

Doh! There I go again :)

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." ~ e.e. cummings