Go ahead, get dirty....please!

There was once a time, actually not long ago, that looking out into the yard and seeing mud from head to toe on one of my children would have rattled me - to the core.  Yes, I am that kind of mom.  Not proud to admit it, but I am a tad high strung, a bit of a fun hater, usually tense during art sessions in my kitchen - you know the type.   The kids just plain banned me from participating in (okay, overseeing) the last gingerbread house decorating event.  I cannot help it.  I know that it's not conducive to fun family times, but it is just my nature to follow them around with a paper towel when they are eating popsicles!  Nightmare for them, I'm sure and ME for that matter.  In my defense, two of my children (who will remain nameless) have got to be two of the messiest, let's get up to our eyeballs in dirt, kinds of kids.  I could write a short story on those two and the things they have done when I looked away for .5 seconds!  Kindred spirits in that regard.   

However, lucky for them, I have had a change of heart.  As I watch them growing up, Kate especially, I have almost done a complete turn around in light of the pre-teen/teenage years beginning to stare me in the face from time to time.  Kate's only ten, but occasionally I catch glimpses of what's to come.  It's not awful, but it's different.  I feel a sense of pride watching her mature, but a touch of sadness because I will miss the little girl.  This is no new phenomenon.  All parents must feel this, but it's new to me.  And boy, do I feel it. 

So now, when she gets ink/marker all over her desk because she was coloring pictures with her sister, or gets completely filthy because she is playing in the dirt pile with her little brother, there is no angst.  No anxiety over the mess.  The mess doesn't even register anymore.  It is just gone and all I see is a little girl and all I feel is thankful that she still enjoys those things and isn't glued to a TV, Iphone, Ipad, string of texts from her friends, or other things that I know are coming whether I like it or not.

Here's what I saw outside my window today and I loved it.  What a nice mother's day present for me.  Dirty?  Yes!  Going to track that dirt inside?  Without a doubt!  Do I care?  Absolutely not. 

Happy Mother's Day everyone! 



 

 



          

And where was Claire? 

 

 

 

One guess who the Messy Marvins are?!