The Good Life

We picked up ManSon from his friends house and brought him home. On our way back to our house ManSon was reminiscing about when he and Oldest Daughter were little tikes. I love it when my children look back on their lives and revel in how wonderful their lives are. He realized his ability to tune into others so quickly was largely due to Oldest Daughter’s acute shyness. Since she used him as her interpreter, shield and protector he could pick up on exactly what she was saying or wanted. Sometimes it was just a look on her face. With this revelation he said “Remind me to thank my sister for teaching me this wonderful trait.”

On our short 15 minute drive back to the house ManSon talked joyfully about many things from when he was little. “It has been a long time since I have seen a new Disney animated movie. I wonder why they haven’t come up with a new one recently? The last Disney animated movie I remember seeing on the big screen was The Lion King. Do you remember we saw it with Auntie D? You even bought me that outrageously expensive Simba at the toy store just outside the movie theater.” We laughed about the stuffed Simba and took turns mimicking the phrases it spouted off when you pushed various parts of his body. When you squeezed his tail he gave out a baby growl “Roaarrr. I’m working on my roar”. After giggling for awhile over the other funny phrases he asked me where Simba is now? I think we gave him away when we were packing up to move. We all gave out a little sigh.

ManSon proclaimed that although we endured many hardships over the years, our lives were pretty great. There were some days full of large and small wonderment. Even during the bad times we resurfaced with something positive.

All of this makes me tear up. Here is my son looking at all that has gone on in our lives and he is grateful. It makes a mother so proud. Maybe I didn’t screw up as much as I thought I had. Over these past 19 years I have had days when I wondered if I was a complete failure as a mother. Most Moms feel this way from time to time. I just wanted to say it is ok to feel like that but don’t let it bring you down. Some day your children will realize what a wonderful life you provided for them.