Yesterday afternoon, Amy was sitting next to me while I was plunking away on my computer, trying to figure out yet another blogging technical mystery (which I have still yet to solve). She was singing a little, and then she was telling me some complete nonsense story about how much frogs like candles.
I love these moments. I really do. This is the stuff that makes staying home with my kids worth it. It doesn’t negate the crappy phases — when she has a day where she thinks she should shout everything, for example, or when she wets her bed and starts screaming for me in the middle of the night as if someone’s trying to abduct her (and in that half-sleep groggy state, before my conscience totally kicks in, I think, just take her. For the love of God, take that screaming, demanding child and forget where you got her!) — well, these frustrations will fade over time (I HOPE!), but they’re not going to disappear (although, there’s first “pro” I can think of for those dementia diseases).
But when her little almost-four-year-old pudgy little leg is smooshed up against mine, and she’s looking at me with those water-blue eyes, her blonde curls framing her perfect, peachy-rose cheeks, staying home is worth it. It makes the loss of income and the lack of intellectual stimulation fade away like a desert-style mirage. And in that moment, I am so, so glad that I am a mom.
Apparently, she thought I needed a little extra sweetness, because she threw me a bone. She wrapped her little fingers around my arm, looked up at me with pure love and adoration, and said, “Mama, I love you soooo much.”
“Honey, I love you so much, too. And isn’t it nice to remind each other how much love we have?” [Yeah, I don't need to use proper grammer or make total sense when I'm with my baby girl.]
Amy nods her head in affirmation. ”Uh-huh. And Kate really really loves you too, Mama.”
I smile. OK, I think, she’s going with my “remind each other of the love” thing. ”I know she does, honey. And how about Claire?”
She immediately shakes her head no with great vigor and conviction. ”Nope, not Claire. She loves Daddy.” She pats me on the arm with her free hand. ”But don’t worry, you’ve got me AND Kate, OK?”
Seriously? This kid cracks me up!
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