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Family Daze
Things I love the most have changed with time
By Debbie Farmer
This Valentine's Day I've come to a shocking conclusion: my internal list of Things I Love Most in the World has changed radically. Oh, of course I don' t mean friends or family and all that. They will always be on it. I mean such things as, say, Godiva chocolates, fancy jewelry, or Paris in the spring.
Somehow, when I wasn't paying attention, they've fallen off the list and have been replaced by leak-free diapers and stain remover.
Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that such a sophisticated, sane person as I can't possibly love stain remover more than Godiva chocolates. And there was a time that I'd say you were right. But that was before I became mother of a child-who-goes-through-T-shirts-like-Kleenex. In fact, and this may come as a shock, having children has caused me to appreciate things I never thought possible.
So, for Valentine's Day, I've made a new list of Things I Love Most in the World.
What I loved before having children: Discovering a romantic hideaway for two. What I love now: Discovering a spare pacifier wedged between the cushions in the back seat of the car.
Before: Frederick's of Hollywood lingerie. Now: Bathing suits with skirts.
Before: Listening to public radio. Now: Listening to the neighbor's dinner conversation through the baby monitor.
Before: Spending time alone in Yosemite Valley. Now: Spending time alone inside the bathroom.
Before: Dancing until midnight. Now: Going to bed at 7:30 p.m.
Before: White Water rafting down the Russian River. Now: Staying dry during baby's bath time.
Before: Loud heavy metal rock concerts. Now: A baby swing that doesn't screech when you rewind it.
Before: The painting of Monet's garden. Now: The crayon picture stuck to the refrigerator, of me as a tall, purple stick figure, with a lollypop head.
Before: A dozen red roses. Now: A sturdy swim diaper.
Before: Sensitive men who are in touch with their feminine side and not afraid to share their innermost thoughts, feelings and emotions. Now: Men who paint.
Before: Champagne. Now: Juice boxes.
Before: The Macarena. Now: Macaroni.
Before: Harrison Ford, Dennis Quaid and Richard Gere. Now: Arthur, Franklin and "Steve."
Before: Traveling across Europe with a backpack and a Eurorail pass. Now: Walking down the driveway to get the mail.
Then: Imported Italian leather. Now: Scotch Guard.
Then: Anything Armani. Now: Anything pre-assembled.
Then: Making it all of the way up Half Dome with nothing but a rope, a backpack and my bare hands. Now: getting a straw all the way inside of a juice box without poking a hole through the sides and dripping red punch down my leg.
Then: Long love notes. Now: Short picture books.
Then: Veal chops in Dijon mustard sauce and grilled Atlantic salmon over pasta with raspberry butter. Now: Strained baby peaches.
Then: French cologne. Now: Desitin.
Then: Hot red sandals. Now: Orthopedic tennis shoes.
Then: The quote, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace." Now: The words, "Mommy, I love you."
Debbie Farmer can be contacted at paradigm-tsa@familydaze.com.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
