There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved: It is God’s finger on man’s shoulder. Charles Morgan
There is much we learn from the love of a child. When they are still little, they are unencumbered with the “rules” of society. They just love.
When my nieces came into our world, I loved them so much. First there was Raisha and then shortly after, Rosie (both 15 now) and then Molly, 6, and then Jillian, who will be 3 on September 11th. As my brother said, “Obviously, good things happen on this date.” (I’ll post some pics of the birthday party next week!)
Since I don’t have children of mine own, even though I thought I’d have about 5, I was unprepared for the depth of feeling I would have for my nieces. I understand a parent’s bond is probably so much more; however, I can’t imagine feeling more intensely.
What I was totally unprepared for was how they would love me.
Molly once said, “You know Aunt Sheila, the only place for me is on your lap.” 
She sleeps with me when I am visiting and we have a ritual of putting on our coordinated PJ’s and getting in bed and talking about…just things. She gets her little face so close to me and asks the serious questions. And they are many. Sometimes it’s just about talking about “Wonder Pets” and how they say, “This is serious!” Other times she asks about people she’s heard me talk about…she wants the scoop.
When she was very little, I was on the deck and she came home with her mom and saw me and said, “It’s Aunt Sheila!” We all laughed because up until this time I don’t think she had actually referred to me!
Here sissy, Jill Jill, is quite a different personality. She is not yet wanting all of the cuddly stuff (her mom is there for this!), yet the last time I visited Mike came home and saw them both sitting with me on a chair and he said, “I can see you are piled up, Aunt Sheila.” Funny. Jilly just wanted to be where here sissy was… I’m waiting on the time she wants to sit with me alone. 
Maybe if I scarf that iPad, she’ll come to me!
She is just a sweetie.
The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mood of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change, for happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up. Charles Morgan
