Have you ever just sat down and thought about why you love your kids? Sure we all think constantly about how much we love them but this week I found myself watching them and taking notes of all of the things that make me love them as much as I do.
Of course there are the big things – their energy, their zest for life, their optimistic way of looking at the world. It’s their smiles, the light in their eyes when they learn something new and their interest in understanding the things they know nothing about.
Then there are the little things – and there are tons of little things. These are the things I notice on a daily basis like how our son’s voice gets softer and quieter whenever he tells us how much he loves us. It’s how our second daughter gets so excited when she has a story to tell that she can hardly find the words to get it out. It’s how our first daughter has discovered a true love of music and how she dances and sings her way around the house each and every day. I love seeing all of the traits, interests and mannerisms that are appearing in each of them that remind me of my husband and myself.
Then it’s the physical stuff like their hugs and kisses. It’s cuddling with them in bed at night and talking about their days. It’s how our seven-year-old can sit on our laps and despite her crazy long legs, can somehow still find a way to ‘fit’. It’s how our son likes to have us sing songs while drawing on his back. It’s how a quiet tight hug can calm our second daughter down in an instant when her emotions get to be too much. It’s feeling their little hands in mine when we cross a street. It’s picking them up and feeling their legs wrap around my waist and their heads resting on my shoulder. I feel love any time we touch.
And finally, I love them because of how they make me feel. They make me feel successful, fulfilled and give my life a kind of meaning that I never knew existed before they came into it. I love them because of the pride they make me feel – every new step, every new situation, every new adventure and how they push through difficult times. In times of stress and worry, one look at their faces can bring clarity to any situation I am facing and I love that they hold the power to do that. I love that just hearing them laugh makes me happy. I love that hearing them make each other laugh fills my heart and makes me smile bigger than I ever thought possible.
So kids, take this as a love letter from Mommy to you. I am literally bursting at the seams with love for all three of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for filling it full of such goodness each and every day. And just in case you’re wondering who will get the last word when it comes to our recent ‘love fights’, it’s always going to be me .“No, I love YOU more.”
Deanna is a Mom of three, wife, marketer and blogger – lover of travel, morning coffee, family time, belly laughs, good friends and uninterrupted showers! Follow her on twitter @DeannaCMiller