Made in Richmond

Real Simple is running a feature this month in which several different female writers describe what situations or life experiences have made them feel beautiful. I’ve been in a major rut lately, so I thought (instead of picking just one) I’d list a few of those moments for me.

When I bathe my little boy
This is my favorite part of the day – possibly my favorite part of parenting JR at this point. There is no computer on my lap, no phone in my hand, no conversation about work or what needs to get done next. It’s just him (and all of his delectable chub) and me, splashing, making duck noises, and exchanging “ba ba bas” and “glub glub glubs.” My face is relaxed, my breathing is calm, and my smiling comes easy.

When I turn a phrase “just so”
When you write for a living, it can get old. Really old. But there are moments every know and then when you think, “Yes. That’s perfect.” It feels like I’m oozing sunshine and stardust when it happens. (That last sentence was not an example of such a situation.)

When I’m polite to people
Making my mother proud and setting a good example for my son. That’s hard to beat.

Now you go…