Simple Pleasures

Another lesson learned from my favorite, tiny teachers.

Pushing the overfull cart out the doors of Wal-Mart with a kid on each side holding on, they start chanting, "GO FAST OUTSIDE! GO FAST OUTSIDE!" This is a grocery store (or any store with shopping carts) ritual; we go fast outside. We've done this a million times, but today it hit me. As I'm running as fast as I dare with my 300lb. cart, the looks of excitement on their faces and their high-pitched screams and giggles taught me my lesson. To get to my excitement equivalency would for sure have to be a roller coaster, a BIG roller coaster. Why can't I just stop, get out of "survival mode" and enjoy life's simple pleasures? It made me stop and think of the little things that bring my girls ecstatic joy. For instance;
* a band-aid, ooh and especially if it's colorful- WOW! That's exciting!
*pushing the button to open the microwave. My excitement equivalency; pushing the button to launch the space shuttle.
*Picking out a worthless toy at the $1 store. My excitement equivalency; picking out my new (not off the clearance rack) shoes.
*a few chocolate chips. My, I'm going to call it E.E. (excitement equivalency) so I don't have to keep typing it, is the whole bag of the expensive chocolate.
*Playing in a big bowl of suds (desperate times call for desperate measures). My E.E.; I don't know, swimming with the dolphins maybe?
* a sleep over. My E.E.; my honeymoon.
* a 25 cent ice cream cone. My E.E; dinner, a movie, and then a BIG ice cream cone.
* glitter. My E.E.; diamonds.
A few more pleasures; riding in Daddy's truck, going out to get the mail (big fights over who's turn it is), A great big box, like the one the swing set came in. It got more use than the actual swing set. Sleeping in Mom and Dad's bed, going to Grandma and Grandpa's house, stickers, play-doh, ringing the doorbell, mopping the floor and washing the dishes (that won't last long). I could go on and on, and I have, but my point is (I think) that this isn't going to last forever. Pretty soon they'll be saying, "I don't care", "why do I have to mop", "It's not my turn to get the mail", "I'm not riding in the cart, that's for babies!" Most of the time I'm in the mood where, I don't want the play-doh out because it's messy, or I'll say that they don't need a band-aid unless they're bleeding. Seriously! What is a few cents on a stupid band-aid that will make their day? Or, I'm famous for saying, "no, let me do it, it's faster." Where's the fire? Why do I need the floor mopped at warp speed, when I KNOW that using the Swiffer Wet Jet would be the talk of the 2nd grade for a week! Sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like I have to do everything for everyone, but how long will it be before they don't need me at all? :(

Lesson learned from my favorite, tiny teachers. Slow down, relax, and enjoy life's simple pleasures. And most importantly, enjoy every bit of every stage my children are in (minus poopy diapers).

I'm so lucky and blessed to have these precious little girls. I learn from them everyday about the person I should be. Please pray for me that I won't fail them, they deserve the best. I hope they NEVER stop enjoying life and it's simple pleasures.