30 Thoughts by My Kids' Mom

1. Being a mom is the hardest job I've ever had, but also the most rewarding. Sounds like a cliché, but I have found that to be more than just words.

2. I tell my kids I love them every morning as they leave the house to get on the school bus.

3. I watch my kids go out to the corner and keep watching until they get on the school bus.

4. My younger child and I wave to each other as the bus pulls away. We don't stop waving until I am out of view.

5. I give my kids a kiss and tell them that I love them every night before I go to bed, even if they are already asleep.

6. My kids appreciate the value of money.

7. My kids don't ever ask me to buy something for them. But every now and then, I do anyways.

8. I love my husband, but if I had to choose between him and my kids, I would choose my kids.

9. I love my dogs, but if I had to choose between them and my husband, I would choose my husband. I like to tease him that I'm undecided on that one.

10. Deep down, I believe that if someone did unspeakable things to someone I love, I would be capable of doing unspeakable things to that person. I hope I'm never put in that situation.

11. It makes me angry when people lie about me or accuse me of things that I didn't do and even more so when they do it to my kids.

12. I try to teach my kids to be nice, but strong enough to not be taken advantage of.

13. I hope my kids are never bullied, but they are so nice, I have a sinking feeling that it will happen.

14. I am thankful that I do not have to home school my kids. My kids and I would be a mess if I had to. I am also thankful that we are in a wonderful school district that teaches my kids great things.

15. I love when my kids tell me things that they learned at school, just because they are excited about learning it, not because I asked.

16. I don't over schedule my kids. If they don't want to do baseball, kickball, and soccer simultaneously, that is fine with me and I won't try and make them do it just because others are.

17. I don't send my kids away to camp over the summer. They don't want to go, and I don't want to send them.

18. I trust my kids more than I trust other kids.

19. I don't like when people send their younger kids over to “play” with my older kids “because, they love your kids and look up to them.” What about what my kids want to do? You don't give me the option of saying “no” each time. As nice as my kids are, they don't really want to “babysit” your kids, again.

20. I don't like when people invite the younger sibling to join the older one who was going to play with my kid because the younger one “doesn't want to miss out, and it's not fair.” Umm... what about what you are doing to the older one and my kid? They can't have a play date without a little brother? Is that fair?

21. I tend to be an advocate for all kids in unfair situations.

22. When my kids ask me to sleep in their homemade fort with them, I always say “yes” because I know one day, they will stop asking. I enjoy every sleepless minute.

23. Meal time is meal time. Not come and get it when you feel like it time.

24. I have expected my kids to clear their plates from the table since they were old enough to do so.

25. I have always expected my kids to stay at the table with everyone else, even if they were done eating.

26. My kids are not allowed to get out of their seat in a restaurant. It makes me crazy when other kids do that.

27. I have always encouraged my kids to do things as soon as they were able. I can't stand when other people expect too little from their kids and say things like “Oh, well he's only 'X' years old”.

28. I know that I am a better person than I would be if I didn't have kids. It is important to me that they learn from my example. Sometimes, I catch myself doing what I should instead of what I really want to, just because my kids are there.

29. I don't expect my kids to be perfect, but I do expect them to try their best.

30. I'm thankful for my life with my wonderful kids. I can't imagine it any other way.

=J