A Mime in Times Square

Kids really do teach us how to live. Here are ten profound lessons my four-year-old daughter taught me today at the mall: 1. Buy pink things. 2. Skip and sing as you go from place to place. 3. Notice everything pretty, sparkly, cute, and cuddly. 4. If you hear music playing, stop right where you are and dance. 5. Wear a backpack with a pink poodle sticking out of it. 6. If you notice a kid with pink-poodle-envy, flaunt it. 7. Try on some glitter lipstick, then wiggle your hips and smile like a diva. 8. Act like you could afford to buy every single item you see, but just don't feel like it right now. 9. Believe you are a princess, and you will be one. 10. Capture the fun moments, and laugh while you’re doing it.

Being a mother has so many rewards. One reward came today in the form of a little ceramic-something-or-other that my eight-year-old son made. It's painted in colorful strokes, it's about the size of a shot glass, and it has all the wonderful imperfections that come from little fingers and thumbs squishing it into shape. "It's for you, Mommy. Merry Christmas." He flashed me a toothy grin. "I love it! It's beautiful. I love the colors." He went on to explain all of its many uses. "You can put candy in it, or stuff in it, or just look at it, or other things. But I don't know if you can drink out of it because it has paint." "It's great. And I know just where I'm going to put it. Right on the kitchen window sill where I can see it all the time." There were more rewards to come. "Now Mommy, here's a joke. What happens if somebody throws a porcupine at you?" "A porcupine? Ouch. I don't know. What happe...