Parenthood is a journey with no roadmap, and it is the children who most often steer the ship. There are times in a parent's life when they ask, "Why am I doing this? It's so hard..." That is, until the moment of magic happen-and they always do. In Essential Ingredients, Carol Rose GoldenEagle recalls when Creator's blessings have truly been bestowed in a parent's shared life with their children. These poems examine hardship and struggle, the triumph of spirit and joy, and serve as a reminder to all parents that childhood is fleeting.