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.