I'm gonna miss this

I feel like it has been a crazy few days with my kids. They look cute and innocent, but sometimes I wonder if they are all out for me! Monday we were in the grocery store and Paige started screaming, so I lovingly put my hand over her mouth. She then bit at tiny chunk of my finger with her baby sharp teeth. Eeeyooowww!! The more I told her to stop the harder she bit so I smacked her on the head in the middle of the store. No one else saw her biting me, so all they saw was her screaming and me getting mad and bopping her on the head. I guess I am one of those parents now. Being a parent puts a lot of things in perspective.

It's ironic because just the day before my sister was telling me about someone in her neighborhood that had his daughter taken away for 3 weeks because he was caught on surveillance dragging his kid out of the store in the middle of a tantrum. I haven't seen the video, so I'm not sure exactly what happened, but Kristin said that many of her neighbors vouched that the guy was an awesome dad, always playing out front with his kids. He says that they don't even spank their kids. However, he does have longer hair and a beard, so his looks don't resemble a typical clean shaven father. So now he is being punished for it. I guess it's a good thing I don't have a beard!

Another thing in the news this week was a mother who left her 5 year old at Amazing Jakes (a pizza/game restaurant). Now I am thinking that might me a good idea. They won't even let your kids leave Chuck E. Cheese with an adult that doesn't have a matching hand stamp, so they would be sure not to leave. "Hey kids, I'll be back in a few hours. Here are some tokens. Have a great time!" A little hassle free shopping, a much needed date; there would be plenty to do with a few kid free hours! The mother who left her son thought another family member had taken him home, but it was 18 hours until she claimed her son after seeing his picture on the news. Kinda scary!

I'm totally kidding and I would never leave my kids! I am even wondering if I should post this because of what people would think. I don't really know all the details on these stories, and they are probably more serious that I am making them seem, but they do make me think. I really do love my kids SO much! I know everyone has days like this, but there are lots of sweet moments that make up for it. Clark (who is also out to get me) does often say the sweetest things to me just out of the blue. Everytime I put lotion on in the car, he says, "Mom, you smell good." One afternoon I was laying down with him and he said, "Mom, thanks for letting me take a nap." Where did that come from!? And Paige has a precious smile and nothing compares to when she gives you a big squeeze. Benson can be so helpful and I love watching him help his litte bro and sis. The other day we were at the park and he was so sweet to help Paige up the steps and down the slide over and over. Moments like these make everything worth it! I really do LOVE my children and I am so grateful to be a mother and to be able to stay at home with them everyday.

Last night Byron told me about a song that puts everything in perfect perspective, and it makes me appreciate even the hard times even more. I LOVE the chorus. I have thought this many times, but this song says it perfect. We are all at different points in life (I am at the part where it says, "One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'") and at times we wish we were at another point, but the truth is that life goes by too fast not to just enjoy where we are at. Someday I'm gonna miss this, so I am going to treasure every moment!
Here are the lyrics...

She was staring out the window of that SUV
Complaning, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules
"Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
She keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own. One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but ...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

--Trace Adkins