by Stacey Paretti Rase

Reality Check

While driving the kids to school the other day, I made a quick turn to the east—putting a direct ray of bright morning sunlight in the eyes of my four-year-old daughter in the seat behind me. “Ouch!” she said, slamming her eyes shut. I reached over and flipped the sun visor down on the passenger’s side, casting a shadow on her relieved face. “Oh, Mommy,” she called up to me. “Thanks for moving the sun for me!”

I had to laugh at her sweet sense of gratitude, and her comment left me pondering how perception changes everything. I wonder how long my little one will go on believing that I can move mountains. It’s somewhat heartbreaking to know that, soon enough, small pieces of reality will begin to seep into her idealistic world.

At times, even as adults, we have to come to terms with our own naïveté. I recall having a very simplistic view of what it might take to manage the editing of a magazine before I took on the task. I envisioned a job where I would assign copious writers fabulous stories, then basically sit back and wait for them to roll in. Ha! I quickly learned how complicated and challenging producing a magazine can truly be. But it’s that knowledge that makes me even more proud to be associated with Inside Northside and to be a part of the team celebrating its exciting anniversary.

One day, I’ll get to explain to my daughter what I’ve learned: That it would be really cool if Mommy could simply move the sun on a whim, but it surely wouldn’t be as fascinating as the reality—that the process of making a challenge look easy is the coolest trick of all.

P.S. To all you parents who move the sun, the moon and the stars on a daily basis…Happy Mother’s and Father’s Day!