20 Things That Never Get Old About Having Kids

So many things about having kids are boring and stressful and repetitive and get old really, really fast.  Like diaper changing, wiping butts, the crying, the lack of sleep, the never-ending efforts to feed people involving shopping, cooking, cajoling and cleaning up.  The bathing, the fighting, the paci retrieving, the constant echo of “Mommy, mommy, mommy.” The Potty training.  Oh, the potty training. But there are a few things I’ve found that never get old, even after 7 years of motherhood. Here’s my list.  I’d love to hear yours.

1.  That gut-busting giggle hysteria – you know the one – that causes your kid to clutch his stomach and roll over on his side to catch his breath – when he thinks something silly is really really hysterical. No one knows why my 2yo dissolves into giggle fits when we smell his feet, wave our hands in the air and say “STINKY!” But he does. And so does the older one. If I could bottle that laugh, I’d be the richest woman on earth.

2. Watching them when they don’t know you’re there. If I arrive for preschool pick-up a little early, I like to stand to the side before he sees me and watch him play. They’re so different when they don’t know I’m around.

3. Filling my hand full of french fries (or raisins or chips) and sticking it blindly into the backseat for them to take out of my hand while I’m driving.  I never get tired of the tickle of fat little fingers groping for the treat and the weightlessness in my hand as it’s taken out.  That’s very specific, I know. Maybe I’m just weird. Okay, yes I’m weird – for this and many other reasons.

4.  Watching them dance. (Watch it.  You’ll never get tired of it either.)

5. Christmas morning (or in our case Chrismukkah morning)

6. That brief moment when all of you are getting along, laughing and playing in the sunshine.  Grab it.  If you’re experiencing it now, it’s almost over.

7. Hearing other people gush about how adorable your kids are.

8. Watching them sleep.

9. Getting homemade gifts like this:

10. Hearing “My mommy’s here!” along with shrieks of happiness when I pick them up from school.

11. Seeing them achieve things they’ve worked hard for, even if it’s just taking 5 steps across the floor without falling.

12. Watching them with their grandparents.

13. Seeing them show affection for one another. (miracles do happen)

14.  Playing airplane. (Okay it gets old after about 3 times but it’s awesome until then)

15.  Car washes (as long as I’m just the one taking the pictures)

16.  Watching them play with their father.

17. Kissing boo-boos.

18.Watching them play their dad’s drums. (Notice I said “watching,” not “listening to”)

19. Being loved on by them.

20. Having an awesome excuse to eat mac & cheese, chicken nuggets or ice cream 4 or 5 days a week.

Now that you’ve looked at about a million pictures of my family, you’re one of us.  Go ahead and pop your email address into that little subscribe box below and you’ll get my new posts in your inbox (about 1-3 per week) and no spam ever.  That way you won’t ever miss out on any the family gossip. And there’s always gossip.

Most of these pictures came from my instagram feed.  If you’d like to follow along with my life in pictures, click here.

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