One of the things you won't find in a pregnancy/parenting book

At some point your sweet angel who's been doing a brilliant job with her potty training and who has not needed help in weeks will one day wait a little too long to sprint for the bathroom. And the pee will arrive before she does.

And she will cry with disappointment and shock despite your soothing reassurance that "It's okay." And as you are stripping the sodden shorts and panties from her body, you will realize what it is that she really needs from you.

And no matter how posh or polished you are that day, you will ignore the stray puddles on the floor as you sit down wearing your newly pressed pants. And as you lean your back against the toilet you will not think about your hair brushing against the toilet seat while you reach over and pull her damp bottom onto your lap and wrap your arms around her and gently rock her and whisper sweet songs in her ear while she gulps beginning to calm down.

Because you have seen those monsters at the door, the ones named Embarrassment and Self-Loathing. And you know that the best defense a Mama has is to create a fortress in your arms of steel and hold her tight and show her that it matters not one iota that there is pee on her, or the floor, or on you. That pee happens. And that you love her above all else no matter what.

And then after she's quieted down to gentle sniffles, her tears dried, she will suddenly hear the Backyardigans theme song waft from the living room and immediately pop up and run away careless and naked into the other room as if the whole thing never happened. And you will sit there in the wet knowing you have done your job.