This is the best time

The baby was comfortably seated in her high-chair at breakfast. She was feeding herself, enjoying little pieces of bread that I've cut out for her, along with pieces of soft fruit. Sunlight was already streaming steadily into our home, but the the baby's face radiated it's own glow of happiness and contentment that seemed to light up the living room in a way that the sun couldn't.

As bits of bread and fruit dropped onto the floor, and the table was smeared with food, my mother commented: "You must be looking forward to the day that she eats without all this mess!"

"No," I replied. "This is the best time."

I don't like mess. When my older boy started learning how to feed himself, I was taken aback at how frequently I had to clean up, and the extent of the mess. Everyday, several times a day, I dealt with bread crumbs, rice, fruit and other types of food on the floor, smeared on the table, on the face, inside shirts... I tried to minimise cleaning up by feeding him as much as I could, but he seemed to enjoy eating independently so much that I gave in - and gave up on being too bothered by the mess. Gradually, I learnt to appreciate having my children eating happily beside me and enjoying my company with their food. Mess can be cleaned. Moments must be captured.

"I dan! I dan!" (I'm done) The baby cried, satisfied with her breakfast. I smiled and lifted the cubby toddler out of her high-chair. I clean her mouth, we sing a song while washing hands. Then, off she toddles - "piak", "piak", "piak" goes her footsteps around the house. Soon, gurgles and laughter follow as both kids start to play.

Yes. This is the best time.