I frequently wish I knew what was going on inside my child's head.  Typically this is for entertainment value.  For example, when he is standing in the middle of the room, looking at the ceiling, and laughs hysterically before running away, I would love to know what was so funny.  Don't get me wrong--I typically think things are wholly amusing that aren't (such as this blog).  But I would love to get in on the baby's joke once in a while.

There are other reasons, however, for which I would love to know what he's thinking.  In particular, it would really be fantastic to know whether I have already scarred him for life.  This is only a half-joke.  I, as you know, am a working parent.  In addition to being gone for a significant part of the weekday, I sometimes enjoy doing grown-up things such as attending a Janet Jackson concert (oh, how I wish I were kidding).  These days when I walk out the door, he runs to the door and throws a fit.  This typiaclly results in me feeling horribly guilty and strangely thrilled at the same time.  I hate that he's sad and love that he actually likes me!  The "thrilled" lasts approximately 1 minute, however, and the guilt becomes unbearable.  The books and magazines all say that kids need space from their parents, and that it's good for them to see you out and that it's good for you before you go insane, blah, blah, blah.  But I would absolutely love to know that they're not making this s*&t up just to make parents feel better.

Could someone please invent a way for this to happen?  Does anyone else think the guilt is going to consume you on a daily basis?