Were anyone to ask me when the greatest emotional change takes place in the adult male or female, I would say it occurs in the half hour period between taking a child into his bed and your going upstairs to "see if he's covered". Yes, a wonderful almost miraculous change takes place in a few short minutes. It's an acknowledged fact that a child will loudly protest the evening ritual. As you bath him he will scream about soap in his eyes. He will yell when a rough towel brushes a wounded knee. He will yelp as the comb catches a knot in his wet hair. When you finally tuck him in, he will rapidly develop leg pains, acute thirst, and unbearable abdominal cramps. After much scolding, pleading, bickering and bargaining, he will be stilled. Feeling much the worst for the ordeal the adult can then retire to the living room to "read the paper". Now the emotional change starts to take place. 25 minutes after you have allowed that your child is a spoiled little hellion, you creep upstairs again to "see if he's covered". In the dim light you see him. There he lies so still and warm, so sweet and cuddlesome. Tight little curls cling to his damp forehead and he smells like Johnson's Baby Powder. Was there ever a more wonderful child than this? The devil of just 30 minutes ago has grown wings and all the trials and tribulations of the early evening are forgotten. Yes… I am always amazed at the transformation that takes place in a parent as the small progeny slips off into dreamland.
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