I like to bring my kids with me to the store (actually “like” is a relative term, some days I like to bring the kids to the store with me, some days I wish we had all stayed home and taken a nap :) Anyway, back to my original thought. Some days; even on some of those days when I had wished we and our bad attitudes had stayed at home, we will get comments from sweet little grandmas like, “Oh, I just wanted to tell you, your children are so well behaved.” One of those times I had just sternly told the children they had better behave “OR ELSE” and they were sitting in a sweet line on the floor next to me in the check out line. This was after my two eldest had nearly knocked an elderly lady and her cart into the food isle. I was at my wits end. Anyway, my response has been at times. “Oh, thank you. Well we have our days too.” With a smile.
Today was one of “those days.” The kids have all had colds and now the littles are all sick as well, and I’m starting to “get it” too. Could be from those gooey Cheerios I was letting Victoria feed me the other day, just to make my sick baby happy :) There have been thoughts in my mind today like, “where oh where have my healthy, happy children gone? These crabby, sick kids must have abducted them, I hope they bring them back soon!” Connor has been especially difficult today, I don’t think I’ve heard one happy sound from him today :) OH dear Lord, please let it pass quickly. These are the days when I hear the voices of the many puzzled ladies at the store who confessed having trouble with only two children saying, “I don’t know HOW you do it?!” Truly, I’m not sure either. ;)
But those are not the days that I choose to remember. Those days are only days long, and they are hard but we get through them. Eventually Connor will wake up and he will be his sweet, happy (sometimes demanding 3 1/2 year old) self, who says things to me like, “I still ruv you mommy.” Just out of the blue. He’s a precious boy.
And I choose to remember these days, when we had our sweet little goats, even if they were too short. Winter days running around in heavy coats, chasing the goats around the field because we think “they” need the exercise. Picking carrots from our weedy garden, chasing Sammy off of nana’s porch and trying to keep him from going into her house!
There is nothing quite like seeing your children playing together, in their own little world. Happily making believe that they have their own little family, and their family is somewhat like ours, only different names. Sarah, Sally, John, Jack, and baby Macky, the siblings they’ve always wanted. And every time we are expecting another baby, their first suggestions are, “Jack if it’s a boy, and Sarah if it’s a girl.” And we always act surprised and say things like, “Oh, those are nice names!” :) I love these kids!
The “littles” are well, little. And they have a lot to cry about. You know, Cait took my toy, Victoria has a binkie and I want it, Connor hit me in the head; because I wouldn’t give him his toy back. Life is hard, especially before you hit your 5th, or 6th birthday. But there is nothing better than seeing my “littles” playing together and not fighting, all on their own accord. The Christmas music starts, Connor runs to find Cait’s tutu and as he’s putting it on he says,”pink is my favorite color!”, Cait runs and finds Guenna’s tutu, and they both grab Victoria’s hands and start dancing in a circle. There is nothing that makes my heart smile more than to see my children loving each other’s company. Twirling around and forgetting their differences, enjoying the music and laying down their self-centeredness to include the littlest of the family in the festivities. These are the days that I choose to remember. The ones that I will treasure when I’m a grandmother, wishing that I had more babies around me all day.
Thank you dear Father, for giving me these days. For the sick ones, and joyful ones. There is no job I would rather do, than to be a part of these little lives every day.
Oh I almost forgot, this one with Victoria “eating” her veggies like a big girl ;) Getting those extra vitamins right down the shirt.
