Take a walk with my toddler and you'll see things you've never noticed before: A river, suitable for walking in, runs down the side of the road when it's raining; a few trees are a magic forest; landscaping rocks are a mountain to climb. Don't even think about stepping around that puddle. A five minute walk to our friend's house becomes a 20 minute adventure...at least! "Hurry up!" I say. But she doesn't cave. She keeps her pace looking all around her. My mantra on these adventures as my mind is racing ahead to my destination and a hot cup of tea and I'm cold and Daniella is whining and I just want to get there should be "what's the rush? what's the rush?" But "hurry up! I say. And she doesn't pick up the pace. Sigh.

And so...we dawdle. I look again at Elise's big brown eyes and innocent little face that says "mama...what's the rush?" and thank my lucky stars she's with me and I'm with her.