A word or two from my kids

Yesterday Goldie told me that we needed to wash her owie as soon as it was bath time. Her owie was a skinned knee. Sadly, I think that she has pretty much had one knee or the other skinned since she learned to walk three years ago. That poor girl falls a lot (in fact, here is a picture of me at the end of the 4th of July 10K holding Goldie – who looks really sad because as she was running to greet me at the end of my race she tripped and – you may have guessed already – skinned her knee). Anyway, she used to object fiercely to any water or soap coming in contact with her owies for a good few weeks after their occurrence, however, I have so expertly explained to her why washing of wounds is important that now she is all about a good owie washing. “We need to wash my owie in the bath tonight mom so it won’t get any reflections,” is what she told me, so we washed it up nicely because an owie is bad enough with out having to endure the glare of a reflection every time you look at it! yfahfahjhjjjhfjafha
Also, Daisy recently asked what “excuses” are. Before I could explain, Abe cut in (giving me a knowing nod like “I’ve got this one covered, Mom”). He then went on to tell her, “An excuse is like if someone gave you a hat for a present and,” here he paused as if anticipating that I would surely object to the unthinkableness of what he was about to say and said to me, “I know this would NEVER happen in OUR family, but . . .” and he turned back to Daisy, “if someone gave you a hat and you didn’t like it but you just sort of lied and said you couldn’t wear it because it made your head itch, well, that would be just an excuse.” I’m glad that my kids know what kind of behavior is tolerated around here. If someone gives them a hat, they are going to wear it and by golly they are going to like it and there will be absolutely no excuses such as the old itchy head excuse.

Lastly, Daisy is always trying to catch butterflies and generally failing. The other day she was very excited to have caught one of those tiny white moths. She ran, little hands cupped, to the door and shouted for me to come quick. Then she opened up her hands and it was like magic that a little moth did indeed flutter away. The next day she caught one again only this time there was no fluttering away when her hands were opened. The moth just lie (lay?) there looking pretty well dead. I knew that she would be saddened if her own hands had had anything to do with its demise, so I comforted her by saying maybe it was already dead and that was why it was such an easy catch. But she comforted herself even better. I later heard her shouting to Abe, "Abey Abey, I caught a sleeping moth!" It sure stayed asleep there on our front porch for a long long time.

I have to say that I have really been enjoying being a mom more than ever recently. I’ve always adored my kids and been so grateful that Mike hasn’t been opposed to having as many as I want, but lately I have been taking much more satisfaction and just feeling far greater contentment in doing the things my little ones and I do each day. I've just really been enjoying my role as a mom. I can’t really explain it. Maybe it is the ages they are at and the things I have been able to teach them (for example I have found a good deal of satisfaction in teaching them to fold and put away their own laundry recently!), or maybe it is just the satisfaction of knowing that they now know just what is and isn’t acceptable in this family of ours! Hehe.