The Joy of Chocolate Milk

Every few months or so, I get pure joy from a motherly epiphany. Here's what happened today:

Everyday, my 3 year old son (Zachary) may choose to have a cup of chocolate milk or juice. That's it. One cup of something other than water per day. It's our rule, sorry if you don't like it! Anyway, today at lunch, as Zachary spit and sputtered at me about his day's happenings (he had peanut butter and jelly - thus the spitting and sputtering), I asked if he'd like something to drink:

"Zachary, Mommy can't understand what you're saying with all that peanut butter in your mouth. Do you need a drink?"

His response: "No, Mom. Chwokit milk."

I smiled knowing that "drink" to him means "water" and "chocolate milk" means "chwokit milk."

I went and poured him a cup of milk and got out the syrup to mix him his favorite beverage. As I'm mid-pour, Zachary yells, "WATCH, MOM!!!" Again, I smile knowing he loves to watch my husband or I mix up the chocolate milk. I grab a spoon and make my way back to the table where he is still struggling to swallow his beloved sandwich. I pour in the chocolate syrup, insert the spoon, and Zachary says anxiously: "Milk.... (and as the milk changes from white to brown)... CHWOKIT MILK!!!" All the while, his precious face is lit up like a Christmas tree. I lick the spoon (which is a monumental faux pas). Zachary has a minor fit and I must dip the spoon back into the newly created chocolate milk and let him re-lick the spoon.

My point? What a precious little moment in my day. In an exchange that lasted maybe a minute and a half, my son showed joy and wonder as to how his mommy could create "chwokit milk" from plain old milk. To Zachary, Mommy possesses a kind of magic. And I'm left with an overwhelming sense of knowing it will not always be like this. One day, Zachary will be able to make his own chocolate milk. He will possess the "magic." One day, he'll know that Mommy and Daddy cannot fix everything he needs us to fix when he cries "Six it Daddy!" (Yes, he says "six" instead of "fix.") One day, my precious Zachary will not be in awe of the mystical powers of "Santa"... he will have his own children and will himself become "Santa." One day, Zachary will realize that Mommy's kiss on a boo-boo doesn't really have healing powers; only an immeasurable amount of love.

My hope, my prayer is that one day, when Zachary is grown, married, and has our beautiful grandchildren, he will smile as he makes them "chwokit milk." Knowing that once upon a time, Mommy and Daddy made him the same magic beverage... And loved doing it for him.

And so, the rest of my day will be filled with smiling about the joy of chocolate milk.