To a land in the clouds. Where lollipops grow and flowers bloom. Where rainbows can be touched and held and tasted. Where you don’t have to do anything. But you do. Because you can fly. And at night, when the millions of stars come out and dance just for you, you curl up in the hammock of the moon and are lulled to sleep by the humming of the planets.

I wish I could take you with me, to the place I used to go. When the wind and the air and the grass became a magical world, as I ran across my yard into a fairy tale. I, a princess. You my lady in waiting. We wore beautiful dresses, trotted on horses, and were the most beautiful at the ball.

I wish you knew about the secret portal that sat hidden in my room. A closet by day, a fort by night, protecting my most intimate secrets, my hiding place from the world, where I curled up with a book and a flashlight.

Childhood.

A time when magic and beauty flows within reality.

This past weekend, I was busy. Photos needed to be edited from a recent photoshoot so I spent most of my time on the desktop computer, working hard. I would pull myself away from my work every few minutes to sing a song with my baby or change his diaper. But my focus was on the computer.

Cameron walked up to me over and over again, bringing books for me to read with him. I would push the chair away from the computer, pick up the book, plop my son on my lap and read. We had a lovely time reading. But when the book was done, Cameron was back on the floor and I was back to work.

Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, Baker’s man…

Over and over this happened. Each time Cameron would bring me a new book. He wasn’t done reading. He wasn’t done spending time with me.

Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns, One-a-penny, Two-a-penny…

But I wasn’t done working.

I had so much work to do!

Finally, we had read almost every book on his shelf. I was getting frustrated. But still, Cameron came stumbling towards me, struggling to carry his giant yellow board book filled with nursery rhymes.I propped it on the computer desk, and we started reading.

I was rhyming away, trying to clap while holding Cameron and the book. But I was primarily thinking of all the work I had to do.


Do you know the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man….

The page was filled with colourful images of cake, bread, cookies, jelly.

Jelly on the plate, Jelly on the plate, Wibble Wobble, Wibble Wobble…

Cameron wasn’t clapping with me, which is odd, because he finds so much joy in clapping.

Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold…


Instead, he was reaching his hands onto the page, grabbing the air, and putting his closed fingers in his mouth.

Little Jack Horner sat in a corner eating his….
Wait… what?!


Cameron was eating… something. Cameron was eating nothing. Cameron was pretending to eat the food that was illustrated all over the page.

My son was imagining!

I ran Cameron and the book over to where my husband was sitting.

“Dan! Look! Watch! See!”

Cameron took his hand and placed it on the page. He grabbed a croissant and brought it to life. And then, he placed it on Dan’s lips. Here Daddy, have some! It’s good! Then, of course Mommy needed a danish.

We were feasting.

It was delicious. It was beautiful. My son was playing. My son imagines!

I am so proud. What more can a mother ask of her child?