One Paragraph Series No 1. Parenting is to Licking.

On Sunday, I witnessed a free ranging toddler pick up a teething toy off the ground that had been artfully tossed there by a baby from her carseat. She picked it up and gave it back to the baby. I thought she will be a good mother one day. She might have missed a step, but she is just a toddler after all. The kind of mother we need, and truly deserve, is the kind of mother that will pick up something off the floor, lick it clean, and stick it back in our hands or preferably directly in our mouths. This is the essence of good mothering. Noticing when something is wrong and attempting to quickly rectify the situation, but not before putting oneself at risk and then giving the child back a little dab of life giving germs. We are constantly picking things up off the floor, literally and metaphorically as parents. Remember to do the next steps, the teaching part and germ part. Teach them by showing - lick, lick - even if it is annoying or uncomfortable and then give the gift or germs. A sterilized childhood is sad, but one with a present parent and a gut full of momma bacteria is not.

*I am still licking it clean and sticking it in their mouths, but its not so much literally these days. I notice as my children age, it is much more about the assist (tasks I did not plan for) and living by example (the licking part). If you are falling a little behind - I can help pick up the slack or decide you will meet face to face with the consequences. It is helping you remember your homework or dropping of a lunch left behind, but cancelling the plans when you were acting a fool. The cancelling of the plans is the bacteria for the gut. All steps still required.