Clutching That Barbershop Moment So Fleeting

"When many come to teach the holiness of children, then there will be peace in the world.” - Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

I am waiting to get my haircut. I am sitting on a bench in a familar hair-cutting franchise. My companions are two families, on the right a mother and twelve-year-old boy, on my left a young mother and dad (both intently reading magazines) and their three-year-old son.

"Mommy, do I have a drink?" the three-year-old asks.

"In the car, sweetie."

"What do I have in the car?"

"Apple juice."

"I'm thirsty."

"We'll be done soon."

"I have an injury."

"You have an injury?" the mother asks incredulously but not looking up.

"Yes, I have an injury."

"What kind of injury?" she asks, her nose still buried in her magazine.

"A potato injury."

I can't help but chuckle out loud, the dad never looked up, but finally mom did.

I had days like this as a parent, wanting just ten coherent minutes in a row to finish something. My own children are grown now but I remember the days when I wanted to run away, when I thought one more question would drive me absolutely insane. I wish I could go back now and re-do some of those less than perfect moments,  and listen better, and be more patient, and appreciate the absolute crazy absurdity of childhood a little more.

The thing is, before you know it, they sprout wings and fly away. And that really is as it should be. And even though you thought it would never happen, you really miss their voices. The commandment states that we should honor our father and mother but maybe the good Rabbi has it right, maybe we should honor our children first.

Tim Bulone is an ardent observer of life on the swirling blue marble. He works at Davis Group Consulting and creates fine art and canvas prints which he likes to sell from time to time at http://www.MyFamilyArt.com He is an early morning pedestrian in Belmont Shore, where he resides with his wife.