The good, the bad, and the ugly

Parenting has its moments, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thankfully the good completely eradicate the bad every time. In fact one good moment far outshines ten bad.

Yesterday Lilli did not get a nap, so by about 4:30 her monster side was showing just a bit. (Picture ruffles potato chips smashed into the carpet, pictionary cards strewn about the room, and screams that would frighten a hardened criminal. I think you understand, she's 2, what more can I say?) At that point you don't want to let them fall asleep or you'll be up until 2 in the morning so we pushed through and endured the tyranny for a few hours. After dinner and a rousing game of pictionary it was bath time. The kids decided to play a video game while they waited their turn for a shower. When Emma finished her bath I asked her to tell Oscar that it was his turn. She returned rather quickly without a brother but told me Lilli had fallen asleep on the couch. She was so sweet sitting there with the game controller in one hand and a popsicle (which I was unaware she had) in the other.

This is one of those sweet moments, and in that split second the whole evening was wiped away. I think this is what is called parental amnesia. You are able to forget about the things that would drive you mad so that you can be ready for another day. I think that is why God made it so we have to sleep, so that we can look at our kids in complete peace and sweetness at least once a day and think "Yeah, this really is worth it all." All of a sudden you are ready for another day, you are re energized, though the couple hours of quiet helps as well. :)

So here is to the sweet moments of parenting and to filling our memories with them and allowing the bad moments to quietly slip away with the slumber of each night.