I’m not sure parents are supposed to admit to these sorts of things, but I am going to say it anyway: I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed being a Mum quite as much as I am at the moment.

Maybe it is as a result of me suffering from a severe case of sentimentality syndrome because I know my one on one time with my boy is going to be drawing to a close. Whatever the case, my boy and I seem surfing the same wavelength and are relishing each other’s company like never before. And I am oh so grateful.

It is as delicious as it is perplexing (when will the bubble of good behaviour burst?), this purple patch of parenting we find ourselves in. Take last week when we trouped off to the footy – for a SEVEN hour stint! From 3.30pm until 10.30pm (waaaay past bedtime) Master H was confined to a row of seats in a massive football stadium. And despite a mini fear induced meltdown during kick off of the main game when the sound of 70,000 screaming fans was enough to reduce him to tears, this usually unstoppable pocket rocket of energy managed to mostly stayed contained and behaved. I mean, it is a big ask for anyone not to get bored for 7 hours at the footy, but factor in being 4, and it is usually a recipe for disaster. But happily my little champ proved us wrong and left us beaming with pride (and more than a little relieved!!).

Then there was the following Monday, when I was suffering from a combination of a horrid headcold and belated morning sickness. My beautiful little man would pat me as I lay on the lounge, crooning “are you ok my mummy? If I give you a kiss will it help?” and “I wish that you will be all better again soon” making me melt with his tenderness. And for a child who once shunned any form of affection, I am now showered with endless requests of “Mummy, you wanna come snuggle with me on the lounge for a little minute?” as well as being told “Mummy, I love you” seemingly every five minutes of the day – though sadly this has also included the very minute he wakes which unfortunately occurs at approximately 5.23am every day.

It’s like I have finally been accepted as equally as worthy as his beloved father, and that he can have just as much fun with me.  He just seems happy in my company, instead of incessantly wishing it was Daddy by his side.

Sure, we still have this golden run of good conduct tempered with his desire to start the day before 5.30am and there are of course the trademark 4 year old churlish behaviours that arise, but on the whole we are relishing this purple patch of near perfect behaviour. Manners are being proffered without prompting, following instructions the minute they are issued – instead of having to be asked 37 times – is taking place, and overall, a general geniality has seeped into his every act. Bliss.

How long this stint will last though is anyone’s guess.  You’d have more chance predicting the correct Powerball numbers than getting a definitive answer I’m sure. All I know is that whether I wake tomorrow and it’s over, or if it continues on forever more, I am so very grateful for this purple patch and the opportunity to bask in this beautiful phase of parenting.