Happy

We went to my parents' house tonight for family home evening with them and my brother and his family. We arrived home well after bedtime, and Jason was at his weekly banjo lesson, so I hurried the kids through the bath/jammies/prayer/teeth brushing routine. I used to dread bedtime...an exhausting sprint to end a marathon day...but lately we've settled into a great routine that gives me precious alone time with each child. Once everyone's ready for bed, I rock Madeline in her room for a few minutes while the boys play Legos. Then read a book to Colin in his closet (strange, right?) and rock him and sing him a song. Then lay on Ethan's bed and play his iPod touch for a few minutes before tucking him in. It's calm...my favorite kind of parenting and not always easy to achieve with 3 young kids.

I sang to Maddie tonight, then just rocked her quietly, reluctant to put down my not-really-a-baby-anymore girl while she was being so cuddly. Then she layed her head on my shoulder and said, "Happy.....Happy." I melted. My 2011 resolution is to focus on these moments and to handle the others...the chaos of kids home from school and bored and sibling fights and demands for look, mom, help, mom, drink, mom, up, mom, sit, mom...with the equanimity they deserve. Although really my 2011 resolution should be to figure out a way for me and Jason to disguise the truth from Madeline, which is that we are both firmly wrapped around all 10 of her tiny little fingers. Heaven help us all when she realizes it. (It may be too late.)

Madeline being extra cuddly with my parents on Christmas Day 2010.