A Question To DU Parents

[MarianJack]

I'd like for a few (hopefully more) of you to share with me some of the moments your kids have made your heart fill with all of the love that you have. This question is for you if your kids are in diapers because they're infants or in diapers because they're in a nursing home and 99 years old!

To be more specific, I've noticed that there are occasionally, little things that happen that make me look at my son and I feel such an upswelling of love, pride and affection that I can hardly put into words. The first time I noticed this was when my son was about 10 months old and was crawling around on our bed with us and, for the first time, saying "mama, mama" to ChicaAzul.

The most recent was a couple of weeks ago when I was frosting a cake that I had baked for the teachers at his school. He came to the table and looked at that cake with a look of joy and absolute LONGING that only a little boy of 5 can have. Normally, when I bake a cake for the family, I don't frost it (ChicaAzul isn't crazy about frosting), but this time I saved some and spread it on the slices that he got from the cake I'd baked for us that day.

Vary few people are one dimensional. There are times, like tonight, when I found out that my son acted like a little turd in school today, when I'd like to throttle him. Overall though, ChicaAzul and I realize what a special and wonderful little boy we are blessed with. When I was my son's age, President Kennedy was in office. I learned what a president could be because he was the first I knew. I was so excited at the thought that I'd be able to point to John Kerry and tell my son that HE was our President. Tragically, I point to the moron and say with TOTAL disdain "THATS the president. YUK!"

On top of that we have fools like dobson who want us to beat our kids and insure our sons' heterosexuality by taking them into the shower to play "who's got the biggest cock?"

I so much, as many of us do, want to leave a better world for him than I was handed. Our generation hasn't done a particularly good job of that, but we still have time.

Anyway, I ramble. What about your child or children causes your heart to swell? What are the special moments that you'll remember when you're 110?

Thanks in advance, and Peace!

[Caoimhe]

1. No kids yet, but we are trying!

I hope to share moments with you in the future. Please remember your friends dealing with infertility issues!

[MarianJack]

3. You're Easy For Me To Remember!

Our son is adopted.

Our family is a freeper's nightmare. Our son is black, ChicaAzul is Puerto Rican and I'm a blank shootin' white guy!

I've been called a race traitor by a right wing republican asshole cousin of mine.

All the Best to you for a true treasure!

[Caoimhe]

45. haha

freeper's nightmare ! :headbang:

race traitor.. wow did you call him a race hater? Amazing what evil still exists in this world.

Thanks for your wish for me. I hate to say it but the longer we keep trying the more I feel that awful creeping resentment coming on. I have distanced myself from women I know who are pg. We miscarried last year and I had a pregnant woman (my hubby's best friends wife) SURPRISINGLY encounter eachother in the waiting room of the OBGYN. She talked about how fat she was with the baby, and how she and *her husband* were just so happy because they'd been trying for "SOSOSO long" - they'd known eachother less time than my hubby and I had been trying by then... and she KNEW that.

I know there will always be people like that, and I can't let the green eyed monster control me, but it is hard when they say nonchalantly, "Oh you should just borrow one of mine" as if that will make me not want kids. or "wow my husband only has to LOOK at me to get me pregnant" - i think to myself... wow, and here we thought having INTERCOURSE was how to do it, guess we need to spend more time staring at eachother!

[MarianJack]

67. We wish you all the best...

...and hope that you have that baby and that he or she is healthy happy and wonderful.

May I say that if you ever do decide to adopt, I can assure you that the love you feel for that child will be every bit as much as what you would feel for a child of your blood. Our son was near foster care when we got him, and he is the wonder of our lives.

That cousin didn't have the courage to say that to my face. Some of my other cousin's wives put him in his place for referring to my wife as a s**ck and my son as a n****r. I'd have knocked him on his ass. The rest of the family has pretty much ostracised him for that. No great loss!

[NanceGreggs]

13. NEVER say never!!!

When I was young, I wanted nothing more than a baby. I watched my girlfriends from school have two or three kids in a row, but was told by a fertility specialist that my chances of conceiving were slim to none.

LONG story short, I wound up with TWO - one boy, one girl -- both now adults, old enough to have children of their own. No fertility drugs or treatments needed -- just nature taking its own view of things, despite the odds against it.

This is just my way of saying Don't Give Up!!!!

[MarianJack]

15. Never Give Up!

It is so worth it! I love being a husband and a daddy!

[Caoimhe]

65. Count your blessings

Jack you are truly lucky!

[MarianJack]

68. I Do Every Day!

And I look forward to hearing wonderful news from you someday!

[Caoimhe]

47. Congrats!

People should never take the blessing of children for granted. I see that woman having her 16th and I want to yell out at her "Hey, what the hell am I doing wrong!??" or more like "Toss one of them this way!"

[fight4my3sons]

37. don't give up

I have a rare blood disorder that caused two miscarriages (I wasn't diagnosed until after I had them). I was told I might not have kids at all. I had to take anti-coagulants and baby aspirin while pregnant and was labeled high risk. I was blessed to be able to have three sons, who are now three and sixteen months (twins). They all do things everyday that touch me and my husband in ways that we will never forget. We are so lucky to have them - they are the lights of our lives.

[Caoimhe]

63. WOW that must've been hard

each pregnancy was like that? Ive had two miscarriages and it sure is a blow. And this last one has left me with some pretty freakily LONG periods. Argh... Another problem I've found is that many doctors don't want to WORK with you on getting pg if you have any other health issues. We can't all be 100% healthy when we want to have kids. I have high blood pressure, but have got it down. Last year I was taking a medication that very well could have caused my last miscarriage.

I had told my doctor to please help wean me off meds that were bad during pregnancy.. he told me not to get pregnant. Easy for him to say, he has 6 kids. Well, I was 33 and been trying 5 years (no BC) and suddenly found myself PG and at the same time found out it had no heartbeat and that medicine was a big flashing sign. I will never know if it caused the mis. I stopped taking it though. Not gonna take that chance.

[fight4my3sons]

76. yeah, each pregnancy

I have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. the last pregnancy with the twins I was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome and almost died of lived failure. My platelets started going crazy at 31 weeks and I delevered via emergency c-section at 35 weeks. I had a tubal ligation. They said I would probably die if I tried to have any other kids. I would almost definitely have HELLP again since I had platelet problems with both pregnancies.
My doctors were pretty good to work with. There isn't a lot known about APS. It is starting to be more widely known, but it was just discovered in 1983. I am now starting to show more symptoms of the disease. Have had migraines for over a year now and am playing with medications trying to get them under control.
I am so happy to have been able to have my kids. There are many who have APS who are not as lucky.

[Book Lover]

2. A grin that makes his cheeks blossom out

like two blowing flowers... a giggle that makes him also rub his hands together in glee... the light in his eyes when he eats his favorite foods... a million things :-)

[MarianJack]

6. OH YES!

Our son has the greatest giggle and cackle! And that smile will SLAY the girls in a few more years!

[Just Me]

4. My son talks to me.

Everyday, when I pick him up from football practice, he talks to me about the crazy things he and his teenage players do. I laugh with him and tease him as he teases back at me.

I dunno' :shrug:

Seems like there is love there each and every single day. We are in the habit of telling eachother at least two or three times a day that we love eachother. Also, a hug a day is an absolute MUST!!!

[MarianJack]

7. YES!

An ABSOUTE must!

[villager]

8. I second the hugging and the love-telling

Do that with both my boys -- 11 & 6...

[MarianJack]

12. Does the 11 Year Old Tell You To Stop?

ChicaAzul & I say we better appreciate them while they last, because it'll stop soon enough!

But I hope not!

[Just Me]

17. *LOL* Mine's fifteen and, well, he does demand that those affections,...

,...are not expressed before his friends; but family and MY friends are okay.

[MarianJack]

31. Thats Kind of what I expect!

No hugs is NOT going to be an option!

[villager]

29. in public, he is often "too cool" for such outbursts, but in private

he is still very affectionate...

[MarianJack]

53. I Kind of Expect That, Too,...

...but as I said before, no hugs is NOT an option!

[villager]

69. I'm with ya. My dad still hugs and kisses me.

No wonder I was able to grow up a "liberal!" ;-)

[AlCzervik]

33. thats wonderful, i hope when my 11 year old is a teen she'll do the same

we share a lot of music and laughs and she often says "Ok Mom, break out your tin foil hat"

[Just Me]

44. Oh, I'm sure she will,...on different terms.

My son and I went through a brief yet stormy power struggle. He wanted to make his own rules and I was determined to set limits. We still conflict on those accounts. However, I think we have reached a reciprocal understanding of one another's lots in life: forever Mother and Son. It's the unconditional love that sustains us through unavoidable, uncontrollable changes.

*LOL* "Ok Mom, break out your tin foil hat"!!! :rofl: That's GREAT!!!!

[djeseru]

5. A couple of weeks ago...

...my daughter and I went in for haircuts. She gets hers done first, then mine. While the stylist was cutting the front of my hair, the radio they were listening to in the shop started playing "Brick House." We recently moved to this small town here in Texas so the song was something you don't normally hear around here. Right away she chirped, "I know this one!" and began singing and grooving along with it, to the amusement of the locals in the shop...I couldn't help but give her my biggest smile...

My most encompassing swell yet to date, and this is a child that took me months to bond with. She's my one and only but truly my pride and joy...

Thank you for sharing yours! =)

[MarianJack]

9. Thanks Back At'cha, djeseru!

Its so much fun when they dance in that innocent way of theirs!

[AlCzervik]

10. I used to be a girlscout troop leader, my daughter was in my troop

we had many very neat little girls and they decided as a whole that the money they earned through selling cookies and other things would be used for charity and thats exactly what we did, we donated all of their earnings to a children's shelter that they selected, well at the end of the year at the big ceremony that we went to all the other troops got up and announced what they did and what they were going to do with their money--"We're going to six flags", "We're going going to have a party at the skating rink" and when it was time for my girls to stand they said "We donated our money to W.E.A.V.E." That got a standing ovation from every adult in the room and i was truly proud of all of them, they gave their time and their reward to people in need and it was their own idea. I had organized a clothing drive for WEAVE in the fall and they felt so good about helping they wanted to continue the tradition.

Troop1354, best troop ever.

[MarianJack]

18. Fantastic!

And kudos to you. Your influence mattered! We think they don't listen, but they do!

[jody]

11. Your question triggered a Tsunami of memories about children and

grandchildren.

Too many to list but the most important for each was the first time I held them in my arms and said to myself, this is all the future I will ever have.

Thanks for asking a question that brought kind tears to my eyes.

:hi:

[MarianJack]

21. Hey jody,...

...thanks for an answer that brought kind tears to mine!

[medeak]

14. when my two teenage sons

brag to their friends that they have a Mom who can argue any repug..

both volunteered last year registering dems and greens... (hint..Trader Jo's is a good place to recruit)

just to see them grow up to be fine young men and know that they want to make this world a better place. That warms my heart...my job is done.

[MarianJack]

22. And...

...well done it is!

[Cats Against Frist]

16. My little son's voice, and the words he makes

I love listening to him count to 100. When he does each "nine," like 29, 39, etc., he goes "Twenty-niiiiiine" -- just the sound of his little voice is so cute. I love it when he mis-pronounces words, as he's learning them. He says "yich other" for "each other," and "ho lide world," and "knee-ork city," and when he sings words to songs he doesn't know, phonetically. Just cute. Of course I love all the hugs and kisses and stuff, too, but listening to him talk is my favorite little quirky thing.

[MarianJack]

23. We Loved How Our Son...

...would say "too too" for thank you.

Talk about mixed feelings though. We were happy when he said it correctly after about a month, but we missed the "too too"!

[RememberWellstone]

19. Love, love, love.

My mom used to say she was going to love the hate of the world out of me. It worked, I do the same thing with kids, just love em' to life!

[MarianJack]

24. You Are So Right!

It really bothers me seeing how the fundies are teaching their kids hate. I really think that its abusive!

[Just Me]

30. Beautiful!!!

:hug:

[ourbluenation]

20. well the obvious - scoring td's and serving up a pile of aces make me ...

smile, but really it's the little moments like when the big ol football player comes up and gives me a hug for no reason (he's 17)and when my 11 year old turns around after I drop her off at school and gives me a smile...

That and giving their little freeper friends the smackdown on what's what!

[MarianJack]

28. I'm Looking Forward to 17 & 11,...

...but I'm really enjoying 5 right now!

They're ALL good ages!

[MuseRider]

25. He is 5?

Then you will understand when I tell you that at this point in my life there are far too many things to even begin to tell you. Mine are 19 and 21 and it still happens only now it sometimes happens on the phone or by IM.

I am jealous, I miss having children around. I miss having my boys around. You have many heart swelling moments to come, many.

:hug:

[MarianJack]

34. I've Had Many,...

...I look forward to many more and will cherish every one of them.

If I'd listed them all my post would have taken all winter to write.

[MuseRider]

36. One thing for you to do.

You may have already done it. I am a musician and I sang everything to my children so they grew up singing. By the time they were 5 they could sing along with James Taylor, the Neville Brothers etc. They knew the Star Spangled Banner, America and all of those songs and of course every Sesame Street song. My husband recorded them one night, they were very small and recently he gave me a CD of them singing those songs along with priceless parts...The Tatuum of Livery...Grouches of the World Relight....The Lello Rose of Texas...Uncle Homer (Oklahoma) etc. It is never, ever going to leave my special box. The sounds of their little voices make me cry, I can't imagine what it will do to me when I am 90!

Forgot to add Both of my boys are now musicians as well, go figure :shrug:

[MarianJack]

OOOOHHHH, Recording!

Thanks for the idea!

[MuseRider]

48. You are so welcome.

If I had known what it would mean to me now I would have recorded a lot and many more times. It is so lovely to hear those tiny voices again.

[MarianJack]

38. OOOOHHHH, Recording!

Thanks for the idea!

[terip64]

26. Ahh, my middle child...

We moved to the midwest when she was in 7th grade. When she got to high school she decided to go to the Free Methodist church's youth group and growing up Catholic and not feeling any real need to go to church ourselves, we let her. Anyone with teenagers knows that saying no would have backfired anyway.

So, she comes home and starts saying that she is afraid for people who don't know Christ, blah, blah, blah, and my husband and I both jumped out of our chairs and started screaming, like only two east coast Italian natives can, "Jesus Christ, what the hell is wrong with you?" Very ugly scene, to say the least.

Fast forward to last year the day after the election, she is at Emerson in Boston and calls me sobbing and says that she thinks that it is the end of the world becasue Kerry lost. Uhh, my first silver lining after that terrible loss. She got there by herself, with a little help from a mom, but she got there. God, I love that kid!

[MarianJack]

39. She sounds like a girl...

...with her head on straight!

[Mizmoon]

27. He's a teen now

but I remember his first "recital" when he was seven. He's incredibly talented and he performed magnificently. The crowd went wild with applause. I remember it like to was yesterday and I always will. I cried my eyes out with pride.

He wants to make music his career. I'm trying to be brave enough not to beg him to do otherwise.

[MarianJack]

40. Sometimes You've Got to let them make their own mistakes,...

...but it might work!

[Grillydad]

32. Just one of many

A neighbor stopped to collect money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. My 5 year old son loves her and ran to the door. When we talked with the neighbor girl and her friend, it turned out that the particular kid for whom they were collecting was one of my son's pre-school classmates. We had no idea that the little boy, "Tristan," had CF. My son was really upset and ran upstairs and emptied his piggy bank (all the money he had in the world about $31.00) to give to the neighbor girl. I couldn't have been more proud. (My son of course thought that "Tristan was immediately cured) The next day, I called the CF foundation and my Lawfirm became one of the named sponsers at the CF walk fund raisers.

Incidentally, my whole family joined the walk. There were 150 or so people on the walk each a member of a team representing one of four kids who suffered Cf. When little "Tristan" saw my son he ran up to him amid dozens of people wearing Tshirts "Tristan's" picture on it and said, "I'm really glad you're here. I don't like anyone else here."

Kids generally make those of us paying attention better people.

[MarianJack]

41. It Amazes Me...

...how generous and loving the kids can be!

I learn at least as much from my son as I teach him!

[bowens43]

35. So many that I wouldn't now where to begin , here's a recent one.

My oldest, my daughter, is away at school (she's 23), it's about 5 hours from here. She's coming this weekend. I haven't seen her in a few months. She called last night and gave the details of when she would arrive. Just before she hung up she giggled and said "Daddy, I'm so excited!!". At that moment so much flashed through my mind. The giggle and the excitement brought back so many memories of her as she grew from an infant to a beautiful , intelligent, self reliant young woman.

[MarianJack]

42. Isn't it one of the greatest feelings in the world,...

...being called "daddy"?

[bowens43]

66. It certainly is.

All my kids still call me 'daddy' and they're 23, 19 and 16. I hope they never stop.

[DanCa]

43. My nine year old niece is a hemophiliac she has a bleeding disorder

She says that she loves the democratic party because they want to heal her with stem cell reasearch and are an answer to her prayers. I think I'll remember that one for along time.

[MarianJack]

49. A Smart Girl...

...with much courage.

Lets get it done for her!

[Duer 157099]

46. One of mine is when I sneeze in a room on the other side of the house

...and hear, without fail, far from a distant room: "Bless you" from my 11-year old! And sometimes I'll sneeze 4 or 5 times in a row, and each one is followed by his blessing. Makes me smile every time.

[MarianJack]

51. Its Great That Hes So Thoughtful.

Its a reflection on his parents if i may say so!

[Duer 157099]

56. Well that's the hard part

because I don't think I yell across the house to him when I hear him sneeze. I'm yelling averse, unless of course I'm angry and then all aversions go out the window (with the yelling) :-)

So that's what really makes it even more special, because it's not like he got the habit from me (although I always say "bless you" when we're in the same room -- I just don't yell it through the house)

[MsKandice01]

80. My 2 1/2 year old just started doing this....

Anytime I sneeze, he says, "Bwess you Mommy." He tells me he loves me at least 3 or 4 times a day. Everytime I hear that little "I Wuv You, Mommy", I just melt. He's the sweetest thing in the world.

[Kaylee]

50. When I pick them up from my mom's house after work....

My 4 year old daughter listens for the sound of the key in the door and before I can get the door shut behind me I hear her yell "Mommy!!!" from the family room. My 14 month old son makes a screech that I can only interpret to mean "Mommy!" and they both come running up to me with so much joy and excitment. Makes my whole day. No matter how bad the day has been, that greeting washes it all away.

[MarianJack]

55. Oh My,...

...do I know how that feels.

They make a crappy day great and remind you of why you put up with the BS!

[scorpiogirl]

52. I have two girls...

My 19 month old and I went to pick up my four year old at preschool. The little one went running into the classroom and when she found her sister, wrapped her arms around her and gave her a big hug! My mom heart just melted all over the place. My hope for them is that they will always a relationship like that. Of course, who knows what'll happen when they become teenagers:-)

[MarianJack]

57. Welcome to DU, scorpiogirl,...

...and they learn the love from YOU!

[druidity33]

54. mine's 4 and she...

will say things sometimes that are incredibly funny and adorable... when children wrap their tongues and lips around new words (like about raspberry sherbert- "this is my favorite thing in the whole WART")... or when she asks if the tickle monster is home (that's me), or when she spontaneously sings a song with made up words... so much more i wouldn't know where to begin...

[MarianJack]

61. For My Son,...

its "the Phantom Tickler" and "Pinch Hiney Man"!

[Mythsaje]

58. I was visiting my boys about a month ago...

...it had been a while since I'd seen them. They live across state with their mother.

My Dad and I went over for the weekend and we were taking the kids out to do some stuff and he and I got to talking about politics. I was explaining to him about how the Republicans blocked Democratic voters in Ohio and elsewhere, particularly in Democratic districs by putting two few machines in and making people stand in line for 6 or 7 hours, and how that resulted in fewer people actually getting to vote and the first thing out of my oldest son's mouth from the backseat was "that's not fair. Why'd they do that?" He's eleven, btw.

"Well," I answered, "because they wanted to win."

"That's not right," he said. "Not fair."

He's a liberal in the making. And it ain't due to his mother's influence, let me tell you. We're good friends these days, but a soft-hearted progressive she ain't.

He's definitely MY son.

LOL

[Don Claybrook]

59. Nice post, nice post. Thank you.

I have 3 kids. My youngest is a girl, and she's 5. I have lots of moments like that with her. She's like most all 5-year olds: sweet and completely guileless, untainted by all the garbage and negativity most of us learn to dwell on as adults.

I have measured her smile (not the fake cheese for the camera smile, but the real thing) and it comes out to about 12.2 million watts. It often makes me happy just to see her smile. There are lots of specific moments but I'll leave it at that.


Oh, and, give a drink-spewing warning next time you set out to colloquialize the teachings of James Dobson. ;)

[Duer 157099]

60. Oh, I have another:

Watching my son sleep is all it takes for my heart to nearly explode.

[fight4my3sons]

78. I agree ...

my twins sleep in cribs that are placed side by side. They both sleep on their stomachs with their feet tucked under and their heads turned the same way. It is the cutest thing ever.

[cynatnite]

62. Lately, it's been stuff I didn't expect...

Our six year old little boy is starting to get the hang of reading. He's trying very hard to read books to me. I grin from ear to ear like a fool.

Our 15 year old daughter told me a story a while back about a friend of hers from school who is gay. She talked about how her and a few friends stand up for him when jerks say things or try to bully him. They are standing in opposition to a majority at her high school who are products of the fundie parents that raised them.

I've got great kids :loveya:

[LeftyMom]

64. I have the smartest kid in the universe

Every time he laughs my heart feels like it's too big for my chest, but the best is when he says really crazy or wise (sometimes both) things.

Today we were in the car, and he's trying to get my attention.

"Mama!"

I didn't answer because I have a hard time listening and concentrating, so he got a bit more insistent

"Mama!"

finally I answered "What?"

"Archeopteryx!" he exclaimed, for no reason I can determine.

Sometimes you just have to tell Mom about a long-extinct flying reptile and it can't wait. If you're a four year old boy, this happens a lot.

[tamtam]

70. What a wonderful multicultural family you have

My husband is white and I'm black. We have a boy and two little girls, ages eight, two and four. One afternoon after picking up my son from school I decided to take my children to get ice cream. My little ones were lagging behind and they were all holding hands. All of a sudden my four year says to her brother " I love you brother" It was the sweetest thing, I tell you everyone within earshot went "ahhhh" It was really sweet because it came from nowhere. My children love each other so much. The girls are very close and they are always kissing and hugging each other. It does my heart good to know my children care for each other. With all the crap going on in the world it makes me feel good to have such caring children.

It's wonderful that you adopted a child. There are so many children in the system that need good homes. :hug:

[Ksec]

71. OK mine here

Last summer my 15 yr old son played baseball on our towns team. He tried the best he could but he couldnt get past warming the bench.

I kept telling the coach that Eric can pitch but nothing. He sat on the bench for half the season. He was bummed out and it showed through his lack of confidence.

Then one day the team was in trouble and they had gone thru all the pitchers they had so they gave my Eric a try. He was excellent. He threw a one hitter in the four innings remaining and they came back and won that game. After that he was like a different kid.

He became a star player that pitched all the big games and they also put him in center field between pitching starts. Those few months have definetly been my proudest with my son. He made a lifetime memory with that season and I can tell ya that I was probably the proudest Dad in the stands.

[bufffbison]

72. well .. i have one son, and he's a kitty cat!

the thing that takes my heart away is when he tries to make me mad by knocking things over from the bookshelf, and when i pick him up to yell at him not to do it, he starts purring and licking me......how am i suppose to correct him when he does that? :)

[wellstone dem]

73. Another adopted kid story

I adopted my daughter from foster care at age 9, she is now almost 18. I don't know when the pride started, but once it did, it didn't stop. It was there wwhen she had 6 roses to give out at the end of school when she was 10, and one of them went to the cleaning woman. It was there when I realized how hard and confusing it was to be adopted at age 9, and to see her giving her all to make our family work. It was there when she was in 4th grade and came home and told me, "The kids in school said being gay was too, bad. I told them they were wrong." It was there when she overheard Wes Clark on CSPAN and said, "Why don't they elect him?" It was there when she went back to school after being out because of severe depression.

And it was there when she spoke at a meeting of people thinking of adopting older kids. She was asked, "Should we adopt older kids?" She replied, "If you think it will be easy, don't do it? But what's the satisfaction in only doing easy things?"

And it will be there next Spring when she graduates from high school, and in the fall when this wonderful young woman beats all the odds and goes to college.

God, I love her.

[B Calm]

74. Visit my son's web site...

http://www.vansart.com/index.htm

[wellstone dem]

77. Wow, he's amazing

I love the picture of the old woman.

[fight4my3sons]

79. Wow! your son is very talented.

I especially like the portraits that he has done.

[Arugula Latte]

75. I'm finding it hard to reply. Too much emotion welling up.

My son is 8 and my daughter is 5. All the cliches apply -- lights of my life, love them more than words can say, I'd give my life for them without a split-second hesitation, can't imagine life without them.

Their smiles, laughter, thoughtfulness, hugs, jokes, accomplishments. I'm sooooo proud of them. My son requested donations to the Humane Society rather than b-day presents. My daughter burst into tears while watching "Because of Winn Dixie" because that little girl's mother had left and she felt so sad thinking about me leaving. They are artists and athletes and liberals (already!). They do so well in school and they are so loving. They make me laugh every day. They bring me flowers and draw me pictures. They tell me I'm the best mama in the world (which I'm not, of course! But to them I am).

One day my son and I ran through "pink snow" hand in hand -- blossoms blowing off a cluster of plum trees.

One night my toddler daughter pointed at the moon and said: "Dat moon! It fowowing (following) me!"

:loveya:

[RevolutionStartsNow]

81. Honestly, my son does this to me every single day

He's 10, and when I pick him up at the bus at the end of the day, I sweep him into my arms and it's the most wonderful time of the whole day, seeing his smiling face.

Yes he has his moments when I want to throttle him too, but he is at the same time, just perfect.