Kids

It's school vacation week and instead of having a nice calm week with my son, I agreed for the first time in a long time, to care for three little ones from 7:30 a.m. (they actually showed up at 6:55, guess Dad didn't want to be late!) until 4:30 p.m,. when their Mom comes to get them. No, I haven't lost my mind, it's just what a failing economy and a past due cell phone bill will do to a person. The oldest boy M is six, his brother T is four, and their little sister A is two.

I'd forgotten how manic the house can feel with little ones running around in it -

M- "Carrie, can I shoot this (Nerf) gun?" as he shoots and it hits T in the forehead.
T - "OW! He shot me in the head! STUPID! Carrie, I NEED some of these"as he points to the Pop Tarts.
A - Screams as the dog comes a little too close for her liking.
M - "Carrie, when are we having the chips we brought? Can I have one of those (pointing to the Pop Tarts) too?"
T - "Carrie, I NEED some of those" as he points to the Lucky Charms cereal.
A - Screams as her brother goes to sit in a chair that apparently she has dibs on.
Carrie - "A, please don't scream."
A - "Huh?"
Carrie - "Please don't scream A."
A - "Huh?"
Carrie - "Ask your brother nicely if you can sit there"
A - "WHAT?"
Carrie - "Nevermind." I need coffee!

Kids definitely bring chaos to a house, but they also make it come alive. The zeal with which they do everything is infectious. The honesty in their words is refreshing. There is no lack of intimacy with young children, they haven't learned how to do it differently yet (thank goodness). They are all too willing to share every detail of every thought. And I do mean EVERY thought -

M - "Carrie, did you know that my Dad has a special card that has $300 on it that we can buy food with"?
T - "Carrie, did you know that we have spiders all over our basement"?
A - "Huh"?

Yes, I'd forgotten the crazy energy that fills the day when you're caring for little ones. I'd also forgotten how light hearted hearing the theme song from Sesame Street or seeing a big, purple, dancing dinosaur prance across your TV screen can make you feel. I'd forgotten the sheer joy the hearty, no holds barred, laugh of a two year old when you tickle her tummy can bring to your heart.

I'm reminded of why, when there were about ten or more of us gathered around Mom's hospital bed chatting away a few days before she died and I asked her if she was tired and wanted us to dispurse, she smiled and said, "No. It sounds normal". She loved the noise, and so do I.

No I haven't lost my mind, quite the contrary. I've been given the gift of recalling why I do what I do for a living. Kids are awesome!

xo,
Carrie