Rewarding

Ever since I was young I knew I wanted to be a mother.  I loved to play dolls.  Jeannette was  a good sport to play with me, but at almost 4 years older she outgrew dolls much quicker than I.  She would  often ask me to 'babysit' her doll and then proceed to take off for hours to play with her real friends. 

 This past week with the children on Spring Break we had So. Much. Fun!  There were sleepovers with their cousins, pool days, beach days, movie nights, mall trips, library outings, painting, cooking, staying up late, sleeping in, and lots of togetherness.


I am like all mothers in that my kids annoy, exhaust, infuriate, confuse and just plain wear me out.  But for every headache there are a thousand sweet moments I wouldn't want to miss for the world.  I feel extremely blessed to be at home reminded of what it's like to live in a child's world. Taking occasional snapshots , but more often mentally clicking away hoping my memory will serve me well. 

The other night as I was tucking Ethan in I felt my heart break a little.  He was just so cute and sweet lying there in his rocket pajamas with a smile on his face.  What came over me?  I don't know.  But I am sure it has something to do with knowing how fleeting this time of my life is.  My kids won't stop growing.  It's great because each new stage is wonderful, but it's hard to watch.  Clothes no longer fit, youthful toys get discarded, homework gets harder, clothes and style suddenly become important.

The troupe went back to school today.  Emry came home and worked on a project with her dad.  Ethan practiced for his  report on jaguars.  Lila worked on her times tables.  I see them all going in a good direction.  Many of my friends with older kids say "just wait until they are teenagers".  

Well I am not waiting.  I am enjoying every moment that I can until they turn on me.  At least I'll have Glenn on my side.  And the kids listen to him.  They need to be on his good side.  He drives a motorcycle.  In this house, that apparently trumps everything.