Ah children...

I was having breakfast this morning and chose a table in the corner for myself. Across from me was a family: the parents still finishing their food, the children screeching giddy peals of laughter as they played some hugging-tickling-smooching game. There is something amazing about the decibel level that is acceptable in when it's children's laughter. (Contrast this with less than ten minute later when the focus of self-entertainment shifted to something with the occasional outburst that was more forced, less a by-product of fun at which point Mum said to quiet down.)

Then, as I returned to the Reading Room, I passed a family presumably finished viewing the Book of Kells. One little boy was animating a toy through the air while singing the phrase, 'Fish for sale' repeatedly. He seemed very happy about this little lyric and was performing it, but also could tell that the attention towards him had waned even though he was still enjoying it.

This is part of why I am hesitant to have children. I appreciate these moments so much, I fear I will get caught up in quotidian concerns and forget to appreciate the magic and wonderment of the moment.