Epilogue: Zen and the art of parenting

With children, as with our own life, every age has both special joys and aspects we would prefer to forget. It is tempting to consider every stage our babies go through as merely preparation for the next phase of development.

Suddenly they look us in the eye and say goodbye - and we wonder where their childhood went. Their childhood went while we were waiting for them not to do this or that, to be a bit more mature, and not get in our way so much. It went when they screamed all night with earache, when they ran their tricycle into the furniture and when they refused to go to bed and stay there.

Our babies are our immortality, right here and now. They are also the best personal growth experience available. Anybody who wants to tread a spiritual pathway that will hold up a mirror to the person he or she truly is need search no further than having a baby.

There is no better teacher anywhere. We can be anyone we like to our friends - compassionate, patient, sensible - but our little ones will see through the façade and show us who we really are. Like no one else, our babies can push our secret, psychic buttons.

Parenthood is an essential part of existence, for those who wish to grow and for those who would rather avoid it.

Don't miss the opportunity or the experience.

I wish you joy and enough sleep.

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