I was walking through Sears a few weeks ago, with my daughter in tow, and out of the middle of a display spindle of clothes peered a small scared little face. Several people had passed her location, but as we neared she stepped out and presented herself in all of her vulnerability, somehow instinctively knowing that I'd spot her and the first words out of my mouth would be "Are you lost?"

For all that Motherhood is a job that isn't the most glamorous and the hours are long, it's nice when being someone's Mom is exactly what the occasion calls for. And my daughter got some OTJ training, watching my transaction with the girl and getting her returned to her mother (via a helpful clerk and a P.A. system). Given some thought I can probably come up with a childhood instance when my mother did the same thing when I was with her. . .