Let’s face it people, having kids is easy.

Just yesterday I was thinking this to myself in the shower as my son ran into the bathroom yelling “Mom, Kayla is using your new pants to clean up the crumbs I made on your bed with my pizza!”   Now typically I would have rushed my shower and jumped out to save my poor crumb covered bed.  Instead, I felt rather compelled to pretend I heard nothing and convinced myself that my comforter needed a good washing anyway.  I mean, if anything, they did me a favor.

Later the same day, as I was cleaning my bedroom, my son came with with a stack of papers that had already been colored with red marker (pretty harmless if you ask me).  He set it on the floor and began coloring with a red crayon.  Then it happened.  When he began to color he saw the red crayon WAS NOT the same as the red marker.

I know…I was shocked as well.

After a meltdown, a discussion about how not all reds are the same and that it’s okay to draw on a new paper instead, he somehow still ended up with a time out.  During the time out, magically 3 crayons were broken and a football was thrown across the room.  Now let me tell you how convenient this situation was.  Not only did I rid myself of some extra items in the house by throwing away those broken crayons but I was also reminded that I wanted to show my kids how to throw a football.  Let’s not forget the beautiful half ripped artwork I now have in my bedroom and in my favorite color too!!  Kids are so helpful.

Several hours later, I’m rearranging some furniture and I hear silence.  Suddenly, I’m worried.  I look in their room, then the dining room, and lastly the living room.  They must be outside.  I walk outside expecting them to be sitting peacefully at the table.  What else could kids be doing besides sitting nicely, right?

They could be sitting nicely in a mud puddle, that’s what.

Shame on me, how could I forget that it rained earlier.  Good thing this happened though, they really needed a bath anyway.  Plus it gives me a chance to notice how dirty the tub is.  I should try to stay on top of these things.

After the bath, the day continued like any other.  I was accidentally shot in the face with a suction cupped rubber arrow, found chocolates hidden under my daughter’s pillow, and caught my son standing in the fridge because I was too slow to get him yogurt.  Gavin smacked Kayla, so immediately Kayla pinched Gavin.  He cried, she cried, then I fake cried and eventually we laughed about crying.  Then Gavin tried to convince me to let him put his whole hand in a full jar of peanut butter.  After saying no, he was not pleasant for quite some time.

Yup, kids are easy.

I admit it, all of the nonsense can be maddening.  They can tug at your last nerve and make you want to lock yourself in the bathroom.  They can make you question how the population continues to grow.  After you have one kid, good lord what is anyone thinking when having another?!?!

Answering that is the easy part though.  In between the madness, the questions, the tears and confusion as to if you’re doing your best, you see these amazing moments.

I watched Kayla push Gavin on the swings while giggling.  Sure, they were muddy and had no shoes on but they were also enjoying the moment together.

After the hitting and the pinching I watched Gavin hug Kayla and give her a kiss on the back of her head.  Kayla hugged him back and found a game for them to play.  All was forgiven.

Gavin also offered to vacuum my bedroom to pick up the pizza crumbs, Kayla folded some of her own clothes to put away and they sat next to each other to eat lunch.

I even found them sitting in the dining room at one point with Kayla showing Gavin flash cards, trying to teach him how to read some simple words.

Earlier in the day I didn’t feel like I looked so great.  Kayla walked in the room, picked out a dress from my closet and says “wear this!”  Reluctantly I put it on and I’m not too impressed until my little girl looks at me and says “Mommy, you look beautiful.”  She meant it too.  Any negative way I felt about myself stopped immediately because her opinion stood stronger than anyone else’s ever could.  Sometimes I forget that she’s looking to me to show her the way.  If I put myself down, my girl will do the same to herself.  That means everything to me.

After dinner that same night, we sat in my bedroom with pajamas on and started a movie.  When the lights went out and we finally got comfortable, Gavin very softly whispered “Mommy?”

“Yeah buddy?” I say back.

He whispers again “I love you mommy.”  After a moment he leans forward and says “you too Kayla.”  Then he just smiles.  Kayla leans forward and smiles back at him “I love you too Gavin.”

I say my I love you’s but I don’t think they’ll even know just how much I mean it.  They are my family, my everything and I will love them the best way I can.

So don’t mind my misconstrued words.  Having kids isn’t at all easy.  It’s loving them that is.