12-24 months: Incessant cries of “Mama! Mama!” populate your waking minutes. You wear earplugs in the shower to drown out the banging on the bathroom door whenever you feel bold enough to perform your ablutions by yourself.
2 Years: Your child comes to you for comfort after an injustice you have inflicted on her. Examples: Shampoo in the eyes, vaccinations.
3 Years: The time has arrived when your child will look at you sweetly and say, “Mama, I love you.”
4 Years: Your child now tells you in a milk and honey voice, “Mama, I will never kill you.”
Those of you with older children, help me fill out ages 5 and above.