Through a child’s eyes

Having a child is truly an amazing experience.  Things that are normally mundane are now striking awe in a young person and I get to experience that with him.

I can’t help but wish I was a bit “newer” to the world.  Everything would capture my interest and make me wide-eyed.  The littlest things would make me say “Wow!” or ask, “What is that!?”

My son takes such pleasure in the things I see every day, things I hardly notice.  I used to hate having to wait at the railroad crossing at Western and Britton, especially if one of those extra-long freight trains were coming through. But now I relish it.  I hope I get to stop just so my little boy can get excited.  His mouth will drop and his eyes will get as big as saucers .  “Train!!!  Choo-choo!!”  I’m actually almost a little disappointed if we sail through that intersection without seeing one.

Most people don’t look forward to seeing the building they work in every morning. But I do because my little boy gets so happy, he can hardly stand it.  “It’s Mommy work!!!  Big!!” And I get to tell him, “That’s where Mommy is when she misses you.”

And if we get to see the guys mowing the lawn at my apartment complex or at his daycare center, then it’s all over.  That would have just made his day. And mine. 

And I realize, when you see things through the eyes of a child, you do get to be “new” to the world again.  Watching his reactions to the world around him is something new for me to experience.

And what a wonderful a world it is.  

-Erica Smith

esmith@oklahoman.com

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