Children

     My kids are amazing to me, of course.  They are way more work than I imagined and a lot more fun than I could ever have forseen. They aggravate and energize me. Because of them I am so much more but also feel so small and fragile at times. I cannot imagine life without them. They complete me and also undo me.

    Enough of the poetry: my life is my children. From the second I wake up and struggle into my bathrobe & slippers to the second that I crawl, almost literally, into bed at night, my day is their day. Even when they are at school, I am cleaning, shopping, picking up, washing, and working for their benefit. That’s life with children. A blessing, a drain, a blessing.

     My girls have said some very funny things over the years and I have tried to write them all down but that’s hard to do. I have a book of their funnier comments, when I can remember to write in it. Here's one: my older daughter (who is 12) recently told my husband and I that her policy will be not to date anyone with long hair, piercings or anyone who smokes. I think that sounds like a good policy. I just wonder if that will still be her policy when she’s actually dating (hopefully, not for 10 years or so).
    Sometimes I find that when you're living with kids, you are sometimes so busy living that you don't have time to jot down the funny remarks or take all the photographs or videos that you'd like to.  I gave up feeling guilty about that... we are here to live life and record it if we can. I am learning to be present with my girls and to really listen to them while they are still talking to me.